the yellow god-第18章

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trees　rooted　in　the　mud；　that　in　the　mist　resembled；　Alan　thought；
many…legged　arboreal　octopi　feeling　for　their　food；　and　tall　reeds　on
the　tops　of　which　sat　crowds　of　chattering　finches。　Then　just　as　the
sun　broke　out；　strongly；　cheering　them　with　its　warmth　and　sucking　up
the　vapours；　they　entered　sparse　bush　with　palms　and　great　cotton
trees　growing　here　and　there；　and　so　at　length　came　to　the　borders　of
the　mighty　forest。

Oh！　dark；　dark　was　that　forest；　he　who　entered　it　from　the　cheerful
sunshine　felt　as　though　suddenly　and　without　preparation　he　had
wandered　out　of　the　light　we　know　into　some　dim　Hades　such　as　the　old
Greek　fancy　painted；　where　strengthless　ghosts　flit　aimlessly；
mourning　the　lost　light。　Everywhere　the　giant　boles　of　trees　shooting
the　height　of　a　church　tower　into　the　air　without　a　branch；　great　rib…
rooted　trees；　and　beneath　them　a　fierce　and　hungry　growth　of　creepers。
Where　a　tree　had　fallen　within　the　last　century　or　so；　these　creepers
ramped　upwards　in　luxuriance；　their　stems　thick　as　the　body　of　a　man；
drinking　the　shaft　of　light　that　pierced　downwards；　drinking　it　with
eagerness　ere　the　boughs　above　met　again　and　starved　them。　Where　no
tree　had　fallen　the　creepers　were　thin　and　weak；　from　year　to　year
they　lived　on　feebly；　biding　their　time；　but　still　they　lived；　knowing
that　some　day　it　would　come。　And　always　it　was　coming　to　those
expectant　parasites；　since　from　minute　to　minute；　somewhere　in　the
vast　depths；　miles　and　miles　away　perhaps；　a　great　crash　echoed　in　the
stillness；　the　crash　of　a　tree　that；　sown　when　the　Saxons　ruled　in
England；　or　perhaps　before　Cleopatra　bewitched　Anthony；　came　to　its
end　at　last。

On　the　second　day　of　their　march　in　the　forest　Alan　chanced　to　see
such　a　tree　fall；　and　the　sight　was　one　that　he　never　could　forget。　As
it　happened；　owing　to　the　vast　spread　of　its　branches　which　had　killed
out　all　rivals　beneath；　for　in　its　day　it　had　been　a　very　successful
tree　embued　with　an　excellent　constitution　by　its　parent；　it　stood
somewhat　alone；　so　that　from　several　hundred　yards　away　as　these　six
human　beings　crept　towards　it　like　ants　towards　a　sapling　in　a
cornfield；　its　mighty　girth　and　bulk　set　upon　a　little　mound　and　the
luxuriant　greenness　of　its　far…reaching　boughs　made　a　kind　of
landmark。　Then　in　the　hot　noon　when　no　breath　of　wind　stirred；
suddenly　the　end　came。　Suddenly　that　mighty　bole　seemed　to　crumble；
suddenly　those　far…reaching　arms　were　thrown　together　as　their　support
failed；　gripping　at　each　other　like　living　things；　flogging　the　air；
screaming　in　their　last　agony；　and　with　an　awful　wailing　groan
sinking；　a　tumbled　ruin；　to　the　earth。

Silence　again；　and　in　the　midst　of　the　silence　Jeekie's　cheerful
voice。

〃Old　tree　go　flop！　Glad　he　no　flop　on　us；　thanks　be　to　Little　Bonsa。
Get　on；　you　lazy　nigger　dog。　Who　pay　you　stand　there　and　snivel？　Get
on　or　I　blow　out　your　stupid　skull；〃　and　he　brought　the　muzzle　of　the
full…cocked；　double…barrelled　gun　into　sharp　contact　with　that　part　of
the　terrified　porter's　anatomy。

Such　was　the　forest。　Of　their　march　through　it　for　the　first　four
days；　there　is　nothing　to　tell。　Its　depths　seemed　to　be　devoid　of
life；　although　occasionally　they　heard　the　screaming　of　parrots　in　the
treetops　a　couple　of　hundred　feet　above；　or　caught　sight　of　the　dim
shapes　of　monkeys　swinging　themselves　from　bough　to　bough。　That　was　in
the　daytime；　when；　although　they　could　not　see　it；　they　knew　that　the
sun　was　shining　somewhere。　But　at　night　they　heard　nothing；　since
beasts　of　prey　do　not　come　where　there　is　no　food。　What　puzzled　Alan
was　that　all　through　these　impenetrable　recesses　there　ran　a　distinct
road　which　they　followed。　To　the　right　and　left　rose　a　wall　of
creepers；　but　between　them　ran　this　road；　an　ancient　road；　for　nothing
grew　on　it；　and　it　only　turned　aside　to　avoid　the　biggest　of　the　trees
which　must　have　stood　there　from　time　immemorial；　such　a　tree　as　that
which　he　had　seen　fall；　indeed　it　was　one　of　those　round　which　the
road　ran。

He　asked　Jeekie　who　made　the　road。

〃People　who　come　out　Noah's　Ark；〃　answered　Jeekie；　〃I　think　they　run
up　here　to　get　out　of　way　of　water；　and　sent　them　two　elephants　ahead
to　make　path。　Or　perhaps　dwarf　people　make　it。　Or　perhaps　those　who　go
up　to　Asiki…land　to　do　sacrifice　like　old　Jews。〃

〃You　mean　you　don't　know；〃　said　Alan。

〃No；　of　course　don't　know。　Who　know　about　forest　path　made　before
beginning　of　world。　You　ask　question；　Major；　I　answer。　More　lively
answer　than　to　shake　head　and　roll　eyes　like　them　silly　fool　porters。〃

It　was　on　the　fourth　night　that　the　trouble　began。　As　usual　they　had
lit　a　huge　fire　made　of　the　fallen　boughs　and　rotting　tree　trunks　that
lay　about　in　plenty。　There　was　no　reason　why　the　fire　should　be　so
large；　since　they　had　little　to　cook　and　the　air　was　hot；　but　they
made　it　so　for　the　same　reason　that　Jeekie　answered　questions；　for　the
sake　of　cheerfulness。　At　least　it　gave　light　in　the　darkness；　leaping
up　in　red　tongues　of　flame　twenty　or　thirty　feet　high；　and　its　roar
and　crackle　were　welcome　in　the　primeval　silence。

Alan　lay　upon　the　cork　mattress　in　the　open；　for　here　there　was　no
need　to　pitch　the　tent；　if　any　rain　fell　above；　the　canopy　of　leaves
absorbed　it。　He　was　amusing　himself　while　he　smoked　his　pipe　with
watching　the　reflection　of　the　fire…light　against　a　patch　of　darkness
caused　probably　by　some　bush　about　twenty　yards　away；　and　by　picturing
in　his　own　mind　the　face　of　Barbara；　that　strong；　pleasant　English
face；　as　it　might　appear　on　such　a　background。　Suddenly　there；　on　the
identical　spot　he　did　see　a　face；　though　one　of　a　very　different
character。　It　was　round　and　small　and　hideous；　resembling　in　its
general　outline　that　of　a　bloated　child。　At　this　distance　he　could　not
distinguish　the　features；　except　the　lips；　which　were　large　and
pendulous；　and　between　them　the　flash　of　white　teeth。

〃Look　here；〃　he　whispered　to　Jeekie　in　English；　and　Jeekie　looked；
then　without　saying　a　word；　lifted　the　shotgun　that　lay　at　his　side
and　fired　straight　at　the　bush。　Instantly　there　arose　a　squeaking
noise；　such　as　might　be　made　by　a　wounded　animal；　and　the　four　porters
sprang　up　in　alarm。

〃Sit　down；〃　said　Jeekie　to　them　in　their　own　tongue；　〃a　leopard　was
stalking　us　and　I　fired　to　frighten　it　away。　Don't　go　near　the　place；
as　it　may　be　wounded　and　angry；　but　drag　up　some　boughs　and　make　a
fence　round　the　fire；　for　fear　of　others。〃

The　men　who　dreaded　leopards；　looking　on　these　animals；　indeed；　with
superstitious　reverence；　obeyed　readily　enough；　and　as　there　was
plenty　of　wood　lying　within　a　few　yards；　soon　constructed　a　/boma/
fence　that；　rough　as　it　was；　would　serve　for　protection。

〃Jeekie；〃　said　Alan　presently　as　they　laboured　at　the　fence；　〃that　was
not　a　leopard；　it　was　a　man。〃

〃No；　no；　Major；　not　man；　little　dwarf　devil；　him　that　have　poisoned
arrow。　I　shoot　at　once　to　make　him　sit　up。　Think　he　no　come　back
to…night；　too　much　afraid　of　shot　fetish。　But　to…morrow；　can't　say。
Not　tell　those　fellows　anything；〃　and　he　nodded　towards　the　porters；
〃or　perhaps　they　bolt。〃

〃I　think　you　would　have　done　better　to　leave　the　dwarf　alone；〃　said
Alan；　〃and　they　might　have　left　us　alone。　Now　they　will　have　a　blood
feud　against　us。〃

〃Not　agree；　Major；　only　chance　for　us　put　him　in　blue　funk。　If　I　not
shoot；　presently　he　shoot；〃　and　he　made　a　sound　that　resembled　the
whistling　of　an　arrow；　then　added；　〃Now　you　go　sleep。　I　not　tired；　I
watch；　my　eyes　see　in　dark　better　than　yours。　Only　two　more　days　of
this　damn　forest；　then　open　land　with　tree　here　and　there；　where　dwarf
no　come　because　he　afraid　of　lion　and　cannibal　man；　who　like　eat　him。〃

As　there　was　nothing　else　to　be　done　Alan　took　Jeekie's　advice　and　in
time　fell　fast　asleep；　nor　did　he　wake　again　till　the　faint　light
which　for　the　want　of　a　better　name　they　called　dawn；　was　filtering
down　to　them　through　the　canopy　of　boughs。

〃Been　to　look；〃　said　Jeekie　as　he　handed　him　his　coffee。　〃Hit　that
dwarf　man；　see　his　blood；　but　think　others　carry　him　away。　Jeekie　very
good　shot；　stone；　spear；　arrow；　or　gun；　all　same　to　him。　Now　get　off
as　quick　as　we　can　before　porters　smell　a　rat。　You　eat　chop；　Major；　I
pack。〃

Presently　they　started　on　their　trudge　through　those　endless　trees；
with　Fear　for　a　companion。　Even　the　porters；　who　had　been　told
nothing；　seemed　more　afraid　than　usual；　though　whether　this　was
because　they　〃smell　rat；〃　as　Jeekie　called　it；　or　owing　to　the
progressive　breakdown　of　their　nervous　systems；　Alan　did　not　know。
About　midday　they　stopped　to　eat　because　the　men　were　too　tired　to
walk　further　without　rest。　For　an　hour　or　more　they　had　been　looking
for　a　comparatively　open　place；　but　as　it　chanced　could　find　none；　so
were　obliged　to　halt　in　dense　forest。　Just　as　they　had　finished　their
meal　and　were　preparing　to　proceed；　that　which　they　had　feared；
happened；　since　from　somewhere　behind　the　tree　boles　came　a　volley　of
reed　arrows。　One　struck　a　porter　in　the　neck；　one　fixed　itself　in
Alan's　helmet　without　touching　him；　and　no　less　than　three　hit　Jeekie
on　the　back　and　stuck　there；　providentially　enough　in　the　substance　of
the　cork　mattress　that　he　still　carried　on　his　shoulders；　which　the
feeble　shafts　had　not　the　strength　to　pierce。

Everybody　sprang　up　and　with　a　curious　fascination　instead　of
attempting　to　do　anything；　watched　the　porter　who　had　been　hit　in　the
neck　somewhere　in　the　region　of　the　jugular　vein。　The　poor　man　rose　to
his　feet　with　great　deliberation；　reminding　Alan　in　some　grotesque　way
of　a　speaker　who　has　suddenly　been　called　on　to　address　a　meeting　and
seeks　to　gain　time　for　the　gathering　of　his　thoughts。　Then　he　turned
towards　that　vast　audience　of　the　trees；　stretched　out　his　hand　with　a
declamatory　gesture；　said　something　in　a　composed　voice；　and　fell　upon
his　face　stone　dead！　The　swift　poison　had　reached　his　heart　and　done
its　work。

His　three　companions　looked　at　him　for　a　moment　and　the　next　with　a
yell　of　terror；　rushed　off　into　the　forest；　hurling　down　their　loads
as　they　ran。　What　became　of　them　Alan　never　learned；　for　he　saw　them
no　more；　and　the　dwarf　people　keep　their　secrets。　At　the　time　indeed
he　scarcely　noticed　their　departure；　for　he　was　otherwise　engaged。

One　of　their　hideous　little　assailants；　made　bold　by　success；　ventured
to　run　across　an　open　space　between　two　trees；　showing　himself　for　a
moment。　Alan　had　a　gun　in　his　hand；　and　mad　with　rage　at　what　had
happened；　he　raised　it　and　swung　on　him　as　he　would　upon　a　rabbit。　He
was　a　quick　and　practised　shot　and　his　skill　did　not　fail　him　now；　for
just　as　the　dwarf　was　vanishing　behind　a　tree；　the　bullet　caught　him
and　next　instant　he　was　seen　rolling　over　and　over　upon　its　further
side。

〃That　very　nice；〃　said　Jeekie　reflectively；　〃very　nice　indeed；　but　I
think　we　best　move　out　of　this。〃

〃Aren't　you　hurt？〃　gasped　Alan。　〃Your　back　is　full　of　arrows。〃

〃Don't　feel　nothing；　Major；〃　he　answered；　〃best　cork　mattress；　25/3　at
Stores；　very　good　for　poisoned　arrow；　but　leave　him　behind　now；
because　perhaps　points　work　through　as　I　run；　one　scratch　do　trick；〃
and　as　he　spoke　Jeekie　untied　a　string　or　several　strings；　letting　the
littl