child of storm-第10章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


outraged　chief。

Being　collected；　the　question　arose　what　we　should　do。　　Of　course；　I
wished　to　return　to　camp　and　get　out　of　this　ill…omened　place　as　soon　as
possible。　　But　I　had　reckoned　without　the　vanity　of　Umbezi。　　Umbezi
stretched　over　the　edge　of　a　sharp　rock；　whither　he　had　been　hoisted　by
the　nose　of　a　buffalo；　and　imagining　himself　to　be　mortally　wounded；　was
one　thing；　but　Umbezi　in　a　borrowed　moocha；　although；　because　of　his
bruises；　he　supported　his　person　with　one　hand　in　front　and　with　the
other　behind；　knowing　his　injuries　to　be　purely　superficial；　was　quite
another。

〃I　am　a　hunter；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　named　'Eater…up…of…Elephants'；〃　and　he
rolled　his　eyes；　looking　about　for　someone　to　contradict　him；　which
nobody　did。　　Indeed；　his　〃praiser；〃　a　thin；　tired…looking　person；　whose
voice　was　worn　out　with　his　previous　exertions；　repeated　in　a　feeble
way：

〃Yes；　Black　One；　'Eater…up…of…Elephants'　is　your　name；
'Lifted…up…by…Buffalo'　is　your　name。〃

〃Be　silent；　idiot；〃　roared　Umbezi。　　〃As　I　said；　I　am　a　hunter；　I　have
wounded　the　wild　beast　that　subsequently　dared　to　assault　me。　　＇As　a
matter　of　fact；　it　was　I；　Allan　Quatermain；　who　had　wounded　it。＇　　I
would　make　it　bite　the　dust；　for　it　cannot　be　far　away。　　Let　us　follow
it。〃

He　glared　round　him；　whereon　his　obsequious　people；　or　one　of　them；
echoed：

〃Yes；　by　all　means　let　us　follow　it；　'Eater…up…of…Elephants。'　
Macumazahn；　the　clever　white　man；　will　show　us　how；　for　where　is　the
buffalo　that　he　fears！〃

Of　course；　after　this　there　was　nothing　else　to　be　done；　so；　having
summoned　the　scratched　Scowl；　who　seemed　to　have　no　heart　in　the
business；　we　started　on　the　spoor　of　the　herd；　which　was　as　easy　to
track　as　a　wagon　road。

〃Never　mind；　Baas；〃　said　Scowl；　〃they　are　two　hours'　march　off　by　now。〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　I　answered；　but；　as　it　happened；　luck　was　against　me；　for
before　we　had　covered　half　a　mile　some　over…zealous　fellow　struck　a
blood　spoor。

I　marched　on　that　spoor　for　twenty　minutes　or　so；　till　we　came　to　a
patch　of　bush　that　sloped　downwards　to　a　river…bed。　　Right　to　this　river
I　followed　it；　till　I　reached　the　edge　of　a　big　pool　that　was　still　full
of　water；　although　the　river　itself　had　gone　dry。　　Here　I　stood　looking
at　the　spoor　and　consulting　with　Saduko　as　to　whether　the　beast　could
have　swum　the　pool；　for　the　tracks　that　went　to　its　very　verge　had
become　confused　and　uncertain。　　Suddenly　our　doubts　were　ended；　since
out　of　a　patch　of　dense　bush　which　we　had　passedfor　it　had　played　the
common　trick　of　doubling　back　on　its　own　spoorappeared　the　buffalo；　a
huge　bull；　that　halted　on　three　legs；　my　bullet　having　broken　one　of　its
thighs。　　As　to　its　identity　there　was　no　doubt；　since　on；　or　rather
from；　its　right　horn；　which　was　cleft　apart　at　the　top；　hung　the　remains
of　Umbezi's　moocha。

〃Oh；　beware；　Inkoosi；〃　cried　Saduko　in　a　frightened　voice。　　_〃It　is　the
buffalo　with　the　cleft　horn！_〃

I　heard　him；　I　saw。　　All　the　scene　in　the　hut　of　Zikali　rose　before
methe　old　dwarf；　his　words；　everything。　　I　lifted　my　rifle　and　fired
at　the　charging　beast；　but　knew　that　the　bullet　glanced　from　its　skull。　
I　threw　down　the　gunfor　the　buffalo　was　right　on　meand　tried　to　jump
aside。

Almost　I　did　so；　but　that　cleft　horn；　to　which　hung　the　remains　of
Umbezi's　moocha；　scooped　me　up　and　hurled　me　off　the　river　bank
backwards　and　sideways　into　the　deep　pool　below。　　As　I　departed　thither
I　saw　Saduko　spring　forward　and　heard　a　shot　fired　that　caused　the　bull
to　collapse　for　a　moment。　　Then　with　a　slow；　sliding　motion　it　followed
me　into　the　pool。

Now　we　were　together；　and　there　was　no　room　for　both；　so　after　a　certain
amount　of　dodging　I　went　under；　as　the　lighter　dog　always　does　in　a
fight。　　That　buffalo　seemed　to　do　everything　to　me　which　a　buffalo　could
do　under　the　circumstances。　　It　tried　to　horn　me；　and　partially
succeeded；　although　I　ducked　at　each　swoop。　　Then　it　struck　me　with　its
nose　and　drove　me　to　the　bottom　of　the　pool；　although　I　got　hold　of　its
lip　and　twisted　it。　　Then　it　calmly　knelt　on　me　and　sank　me　deeper　and
deeper　into　the　mud。　　I　remember　kicking　it　in　the　stomach。　　After　this
I　remember　no　more；　except　a　kind　of　wild　dream　in　which　I　rehearsed　all
the　scene　in　the　dwarf's　hut；　and　his　request　that　when　I　met　the
buffalo　with　the　cleft　horn　in　the　pool　of　a　dried　river；　I　should
remember　that　he　was　nothing　but　a　〃poor　old　Kafir　cheat。〃

After　this　I　saw　my　mother　bending　over　a　little　child　in　my　bed　in　the
old　house　in　Oxfordshire　where　I　was　born；　and　thenblackness！


I　came　to　myself　again　and　saw；　instead　of　my　mother；　the　stately　figure
of　Saduko　bending　over　me　upon　one　side；　and　on　the　other　that　of　Scowl；
the　half…bred　Hottentot；　who　was　weeping；　for　his　hot　tears　fell　upon　my
face。

〃He　is　gone；〃　said　poor　Scowl；　〃that　bewitched　beast　with　the　split　horn
has　killed　him。　　He　is　gone　who　was　the　best　white　man　in　all　South
Africa；　whom　I　loved　better　than　my　father　and　all　my　relatives。〃

〃That　you　might　easily　do；　Bastard；〃　answered　Saduko；　〃seeing　that　you
do　not　know　who　they　are。　　But　he　is　not　gone；　for　the　'Opener…of…Roads'
said　that　he　would　live；　also　I　got　my　spear　into　the　heart　of　that
buffalo　before　he　had　kneaded　the　life　out　of　him；　as　fortunately　the
mud　was　soft。　　Yet　I　fear　that　his　ribs　are　broken〃；　and　he　poked　me
with　his　finger　on　the　breast。

〃Take　your　clumsy　hand　off　me；〃　I　gasped。

〃There！〃　said　Saduko；　〃I　have　made　him　feel。　　Did　I　not　tell　you　that　he
would　live？〃


After　this　I　remember　little　more；　except　some　confused　dreams；　till　I
found　myself　lying　in　a　great　hut；　which　I　discovered　subsequently　was
Umbezi's　own；　the　same；　indeed；　wherein　I　had　doctored　the　ear　of　that
wife　of　his　who　was　called　〃Worn…out…old…Cow。〃



CHAPTER　IV




MAMEENA





For　a　while　I　contemplated　the　roof　and　sides　of　the　hut　by　the　light
which　entered　it　through　the　smoke…vent　and　the　door…hole；　wondering
whose　it　might　be　and　how　I　came　there。

Then　I　tried　to　sit　up；　and　instantly　was　seized　with　agony　in　the
region　of　the　ribs；　which　I　found　were　bound　about　with　broad　strips　of
soft　tanned　hide。　　Clearly　they；　or　some　of　them；　were　broken。

What　had　broken　them？　　I　asked　myself；　and　in　a　flash　everything　came
back　to　me。　　So　I　had　escaped　with　my　life；　as　the　old　dwarf；
〃Opener…of…Roads；〃　had　told　me　that　I　should。　　Certainly　he　was　an
excellent　prophet；　and　if　he　spoke　truth　in　this　matter；　why　not　in
others？　　What　was　I　to　make　of　it　all？　　How　could　a　black　savage；
however　ancient；　foresee　the　future？

By　induction　from　the　past；　I　supposed；　and　yet　what　amount　of　induction
would　suffice　to　show　him　the　details　of　a　forthcoming　accident　that　was
to　happen　to　me　through　the　agency　of　a　wild　beast　with　a　peculiarly
shaped　horn？　　I　gave　it　up；　as　before　and　since　that　day　I　have　found　it
necessary　to　do　in　the　case　of　many　other　events　in　life。　　Indeed；　the
question　is　one　that　I　often　have　had　cause　to　ask　where　Kafir
〃witch…doctors〃　or　prophets　are　concerned；　notably　in　the　instance　of　a
certain　Mavovo；　of　whom　I　hope　to　tell　one　day；　whose　predictions　saved
my　life　and　those　of　my　companions。

Just　then　I　heard　the　sound　of　someone　creeping　through　the　bee…hole　of
the　hut；　and　half…closed　my　eyes；　as　I　did　not　feel　inclined　for
conversation。　　The　person　came　and　stood　over　me；　and　somehowby
instinct；　I　supposeI　became　aware　that　my　visitor　was　a　woman。　　Very
slowly　I　lifted　my　eyelids；　just　enough　to　enable　me　to　see　her。

There；　standing　in　a　beam　of　golden　light　that；　passing　through　the
smoke…hole；　pierced　the　soft　gloom　of　the　hut；　stood　the　most　beautiful
creature　that　I　had　ever　seenthat　is；　if　it　be　admitted　that　a　person
who　is　black；　or　rather　copper…coloured；　can　be　beautiful。

She　was　a　little　above　the　medium　height；　not　more；　with　a　figure　that；
so　far　as　I　am　a　judge　of　such　matters；　was　absolutely　perfectthat　of
a　Greek　statue　indeed。　　On　this　point　I　had　an　opportunity　of　forming　an
opinion；　since；　except　for　her　little　bead　apron　and　a　single　string　of
large　blue　beads　about　her　throat；　her　costume　waswell；　that　of　a
Greek　statue。　　Her　features　showed　no　trace　of　the　negro　type；　on　the
contrary；　they　were　singularly　well　cut；　the　nose　being　straight　and
fine　and　the　pouting　mouth　that　just　showed　the　ivory　teeth　between；
very　small。　　Then　the　eyes；　large；　dark　and　liquid；　like　those　of　a
buck；　set　beneath　a　smooth；　broad　forehead　on　which　the　curling；　but　not
woolly；　hair　grew　low。　　This　hair；　by　the　way；　was　not　dressed　up　in　any
of　the　eccentric　native　fashions；　but　simply　parted　in　the　middle　and
tied　in　a　big　knot　over　the　nape　of　the　neck；　the　little　ears　peeping
out　through　its　tresses。　　The　hands；　like　the　feet；　were　very　small　and
delicate；　and　the　curves　of　the　bust　soft　and　full　without　being　coarse；
or　even　showing　the　promise　of　coarseness。

A　lovely　woman；　truly；　and　yet　there　was　something　not　quite　pleasing
about　that　beautiful　face；　something；　notwithstanding　its　childlike
outline；　which　reminded　me　of　a　flower　breaking　into　bloom；　that　one
does　not　associate　with　youth　and　innocence。　　I　tried　to　analyse　what
this　might　be；　and　came　to　the　conclusion　that　without　being　hard；　it
was　too　clever　and；　in　a　sense；　too　reflective。　　I　felt　even　then　that
the　brain　within　the　shapely　head　was　keen　and　bright　as　polished　steel；
that　this　woman　was　one　made　to　rule；　not　to　be　man's　toy；　or　even　his
loving　companion；　but　to　use　him　for　her　ends。

She　dropped　her　chin　till　it　hid　the　little；　dimple…like　depression
below　her　throat；　which　was　one　of　her　charms；　and　began　not　to　look　at；
but　to　study　me；　seeing　which　I　shut　my　eyes　tight　and　waited。　
Evidently　she　thought　that　I　was　still　in　my　swoon；　for　now　she　spoke　to
herself　in　a　low　voice　that　was　soft　and　sweet　as　honey。

〃A　small　man；〃　she　said；　〃Saduko　would　make　two　of　him；　and　the
other〃who　was　he；　I　wondered〃three。　　His　hair；　too；　is　ugly；　he　cuts
it　short　and　it　sticks　up　like　that　on　a　cat's　back。　　Iya！〃　（i。e。
Piff！）；　and　she　moved　her　hand　contemptuously；　〃a　feather　of　a　man。　　But
whitewhite；　one　of　those　who　rule。　　Why；　they　all　of　them　know　that　he
is　their　master。　　They　call　him　'He…who…never…Sleeps。'　　They　say　that　he
has　the　courage　of　a　lioness　with　younghe　who　got　away　when　Dingaan
killed　Piti　＇Retief＇　and　the　Boers；　they　say　that　he　is　quick　and
cunning　as　a　snake；　and　that　Panda　and　his　great　indunas　think　more　of
him　than　of　any　white　man　they　know。　　He　is　unmarried　also；　though　they
say；　too；　that　twice　he　had　a　wife；　who　died；　and　now　he　does　not　turn
to　look　at　women；　which　is　strange　in　any　man；　and　shows　that　he　will
escape　trouble　and　succeed。　　Still；　it　must　be　remembered　that　they　are
all　ugly　down　here　in　Zululand；　cows；　or　heifers　who　will　be　cows。　
Piff！　no　more。〃

She　paused　for　a　little　while；　then　went　on　in　her　dreamy；　reflective
voice：

〃Now；　if　he　met　a　woman　who　is　not　merely　a　cow　or　a　heifer；　a　woman
cleverer　than　himself；　even　if　she　were　not　white；　I　wonder〃

At　this　point　I　thought　it　well　to　wake　up。　　Turning　my　head　I　yawned；
opened　my　eyes　and　looked　at　her　vaguely；　seeing　which　her　expression
changed　in　a　f