child of storm-第9章

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ridge；　whence　I　could　see　the　dry　vlei　below。　　Here　the　mists　of　dawn
still　clung；　but　from　it　rose　sounds　of　grunts；　bellows　and　tramplings
which　I；　an　old　hunter；　could　not　mistake。　　Evidently　a　herd　of　buffalo；
one　or　two　hundred　of　them；　had　established　themselves　in　those　reeds。

Just　then　my　bastard　servant；　Scowl；　and　Saduko　joined　us；　both　of　them
full　of　excitement。

It　appeared　that　Scowl；　who　never　seemed　to　sleep　at　any　natural　time；
had　seen　the　buffalo　entering　the　reeds；　and　estimated　their　number　at
two　or　three　hundred。　　Saduko　had　examined　the　cleft　through　which　they
passed；　and　reported　it　to　be　so　narrow　that　we　could　kill　any　number　of
them　as　they　rushed　out　to　escape。

〃Quite　so。　　I　understand；〃　I　said。　　〃Well；　my　opinion　is　that　we　had
better　let　them　escape。　　Only　four　of　us；　counting　Umbezi；　are　armed
with　guns；　and　assegais　are　not　of　much　use　against　buffalo。　　Let　them
go；　I　say。〃

Umbezi；　thinking　of　a　cheap　raw　material　for　the　shields　which　had　been
requisitioned　by　the　King；　who　would　surely　be　pleased　if　they　were　made
of　such　a　rare　and　tough　hide　as　that　of　buffalo；　protested　violently；
and　Saduko；　either　to　please　one　whom　he　hoped　might　be　his
father…in…law　or　from　sheer　love　of　sport；　for　which　he　always　had　a
positive　passion；　backed　him　up。　　Only　Scowlwhose　dash　of　Hottentot
blood　made　him　cunning　and　cautioustook　my　side；　pointing　out　that　we
were　very　short　of　powder　and　that　buffalo　〃ate　up　much　lead。〃　　At　last
Saduko　said：

〃The　lord　Macumazana　is　our　captain；　we　must　obey　him；　although　it　is　a
pity。　　But　doubtless　the　prophesying　of　Zikali　weighs　upon　his　mind；　so
there　is　nothing　to　be　done。〃

〃Zikali！〃　exclaimed　Umbezi。　　〃What　has　the　old　dwarf　to　do　with　this
matter？〃

〃Never　mind　what　he　has　or　has　not　to　do　with　it；〃　I　broke　in；　for
although　I　do　not　think　that　he　meant　them　as　a　taunt；　but　merely　as　a
statement　of　fact；　Saduko's　words　stung　me　to　the　quick；　especially　as
my　conscience　told　me　that　they　were　not　altogether　without　foundation。

〃We　will　try　to　kill　some　of　these　buffalo；〃　I　went　on；　〃although；
unless　the　herd　should　get　bogged；　which　is　not　likely；　as　the　swamp　is
very　dry；　I　do　not　think　that　we　can　hope　for　more　than　eight　or　ten　at
the　most；　which　won't　be　of　much　use　for　shields。　　Come；　let　us　make　a
plan。　　We　have　no　time　to　lose；　for　I　think　they　will　begin　to　move
again　before　the　sun　is　well　up。〃

Half　an　hour　later　the　four　of　us　who　were　armed　with　guns　were　posted
behind　rocks　on　either　side　of　the　steep；　natural　roadway　cut　by　water；
which　led　down　to　the　vlei；　and　with　us　some　of　Umbezi's　men。　　That
chief　himself　was　at　my　sidea　post　of　honour　which　he　had　insisted
upon　taking。　　To　tell　the　truth；　I　did　not　dissuade　him；　for　I　thought
that　I　should　be　safer　so　than　if　he　were　opposite　to　me；　since；　even　if
the　old　rifle　did　not　go　off　of　its　own　accord；　Umbezi；　when　excited；
was　a　most　uncertain　shot。　　The　herd　of　buffalo　appeared　to　have　lain
down　in　the　reeds；　so；　being　careful　to　post　ourselves　first；　we　sent
three　of　the　native　bearers　to　the　farther　side　of　the　vlei；　with
instructions　to　rouse　the　beasts　by　shouting。　　The　remainder　of　the
Zulusthere　were　ten　or　a　dozen　of　them　armed　with　stabbing　spearswe
kept　with　us。

But　what　did　these　scoundrels　do？　　Instead　of　disturbing　the　herd　by
making　a　noise；　as　we　told　them；　for　some　reason　best　known　to
themselvesI　expect　it　was　because　they　were　afraid　to　go　into　the
vlei；　where　they　might　meet　the　horn　of　a　buffalo　at　any　momentthey
fired　the　dry　reeds　in　three　or　four　places　at　once；　and　this；　if　you
please；　with　a　strong　wind　blowing　from　them　to　us。　　In　a　minute　or　two
the　farther　side　of　the　swamp　was　a　sheet　of　crackling　flame　that　gave
off　clouds　of　dense　white　smoke。　　Then　pandemonium　began。

The　sleeping　buffalo　leapt　to　their　feet；　and；　after　a　few　moments　of
indecision；　crashed　towards　us；　the　whole　huge　herd　of　them；　snorting
and　bellowing　like　mad　things。　　Seeing　what　was　about　to　happen；　I
nipped　behind　a　big　boulder；　while　Scowl　shinned　up　a　mimosa　with　the
swiftness　of　a　cat　and；　heedless　of　its　thorns；　sat　himself　in　an
eagle's　nest　at　the　top。　　The　Zulus　with　the　spears　bolted　to　take　cover
where　they　could。　　What　became　of　Saduko　I　did　not　see；　but　old　Umbezi；
bewildered　with　excitement；　jumped　into　the　exact　middle　of　the　roadway；
shouting：

〃They　come！　　They　come！　　Charge；　buffalo　folk；　if　you　will。　　The
Eater…up…of…Elephants　awaits　you！〃

〃You　etceterad　old　fool！〃　I　shouted；　but　got　no　farther；　for　just　at
this　moment　the　first　of　the　buffalo；　which　I　could　see　was　an　enormous
bull；　probably　the　leader　of　the　herd；　accepted　Umbezi's　invitation　and
came；　with　its　nose　stuck　straight　out　in　front　of　it。　　Umbezi's　gun
went　off；　and　next　instant　he　went　up。　　Through　the　smoke　I　saw　his
black　bulk　in　the　air；　and　then　heard　it　alight　with　a　thud　on　the　top
of　the　rock　behind　which　I　was　crouching。

〃Exit　Umbezi；〃　I　said　to　myself；　and　by　way　of　a　requiem　let　the　bull
which　had　hoisted　him；　as　I　thought　to　heaven；　have　an　ounce　of　lead　in
the　ribs　as　it　passed　me。　　After　that　I　did　not　fire　any　more；　for　it
occurred　to　me　that　it　was　as　well　not　to　further　advertise　my　presence。

In　all　my　hunting　experience　I　cannot　remember　ever　seeing　such　a　sight
as　that　which　followed。　　Out　of　the　vlei　rushed　the　buffalo　by　dozens；
every　one　of　them　making　remarks　in　its　own　language　as　it　came。　　They
jammed　in　the　narrow　roadway；　they　leapt　on　to　each　other's　backs。　　They
squealed；　they　kicked；　they　bellowed。　　They　charged　my　friendly　rock
till　I　felt　it　shake。　　They　knocked　over　Scowl's　mimosa　thorn；　and　would
have　shot　him　out　of　his　eagle's　nest　had　not　its　flat　top　fortunately
caught　in　that　of　another　and　less　accessible　tree。　　And　with　them　came
clouds　of　pungent　smoke；　mixed　with　bits　of　burning　reed　and　puffs　of
hot　air。

It　was　over　at　last。　　With　the　exception　of　some　calves；　which　had　been
trampled　to　death　in　the　rush；　the　herd　had　gone。　　Now；　like　the　Roman
emperorI　think　he　was　an　emperorI　began　to　wonder　what　had　become　of
my　legions。

〃Umbezi；〃　I　shouted；　or；　rather；　sneezed　through　the　smoke；　〃are　you
dead；　Umbezi？　〃

〃Yes；　yes；　Macumazahn；〃　replied　a　choking　and　melancholy　voice　from　the
top　of　the　rock；　〃I　am　dead；　quite　dead。　　That　evil　spirit　of　a　silwana
＇i。e。　wild　beast＇　has　killed　me。　　Oh！　why　did　I　think　I　was　a　hunter；
why　did　I　not　stop　at　my　kraal　and　count　my　cattle？〃

〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know；　you　old　lunatic；〃　I　answered；　as　I　scrambled　up
the　rock　to　bid　him　good…bye。

It　was　a　rock　with　a　razor　top　like　the　ridge　of　a　house；　and　there；
hanging　across　this　ridge　like　a　pair　of　nether　garments　on　a
clothes…line；　I　found　the　〃Eater…up…of…Elephants。〃

〃Where　did　he　get　you；　Umbezi？〃　I　asked；　for　I　could　not　see　his　wounds
because　of　the　smoke。

〃Behind；　Macumazahn；　behind！〃　he　groaned；　〃for　I　had　turned　to　fly；　but；
alas！　too　late。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　I　replied；　〃for　one　so　heavy　you　flew　very　well；　like
a　bird；　Umbezi；　like　a　bird。〃

〃Look　and　see　what　the　evil　beast　has　done　to　me；　Macumazahn。　　It　will
be　easy；　for　my　moocha　has　gone。〃

So　I　looked；　examining　Umbezi's　ample　proportions　with　care；　but　could
discover　nothing　except　a　large　smudge　of　black　mud；　as　though　he　had
sat　down　in　a　half…dried　puddle。　　Then　I　guessed　the　truth。　　The
buffalo's　horns　had　missed　him。　　He　had　been　struck　only　with　its　muddy
nose；　which；　being　almost　as　broad　as　that　portion　of　Umbezi　with　which
it　came　in　contact；　had　inflicted　nothing　worse　than　a　bruise。　　When　I
was　sure　he　had　received　no　serious　injury；　my　temper；　already　sorely
tried；　gave　out；　and　I　administered　to　him　the　soundest　smackinghis
position　being　very　convenientthat　he　had　ever　received　since　he　was　a
little　boy。

〃Get　up；　you　idiot！〃　I　shouted；　〃and　let　us　look　for　the　others。　　This
is　the　end　of　your　folly　in　making　me　attack　a　herd　of　buffalo　in　reeds。
　Get　up。　　Am　I　to　stop　here　till　I　choke？〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　I　have　no　mortal　wound；　Macumazahn？〃　he
asked；　with　a　return　of　cheerfulness；　accepting　the　castigation　in　good
part；　for　he　was　not　one　who　bore　malice。　　〃Oh；　I　am　glad　to　hear　it；
for　now　I　shall　live　to　make　those　cowards　who　fired　the　reeds　sorry
that　they　are　not　dead；　also　to　finish　off　that　wild　beast；　for　I　hit
him；　Macumazahn；　I　hit　him。〃

〃I　don't　know　whether　you　hit　him；　I　know　he　hit　you；〃　I　replied；　as　I
shoved　him　off　the　rock　and　ran　towards　the　tilted　tree　where　I　had　last
seen　Scowl。

Here　I　beheld　another　strange　sight。　　Scowl　was　still　seated　in　the
eagle's　nest　that　he　shared　with　two　nearly　fledged　young　birds；　one　of
which；　having　been　injured；　was　uttering　piteous　cries。　　Nor　did　it　cry
in　vain；　for　its　parents；　which　were　of　that　great　variety　of　kite　that
the　Boers　call　〃lammefange〃；　or　lamb…lifters；　had　just　arrived　to　its
assistance；　and　were　giving　their　new　nestling；　Scowl；　the　best　doing
that　man　ever　received　at　the　beak　and　claws　of　feathered　kind。　　Seen
through　those　rushing　smoke　wreaths；　the　combat　looked　perfectly
titanic；　also　it　was　one　of　the　noisiest　to　which　I　ever　listened；　for　I
don't　know　which　shrieked　the　more　loudly；　the　infuriated　eagles　or
their　victim。

Seeing　how　things　stood；　I　burst　into　a　roar　of　laughter；　and　just　then
Scowl　grabbed　the　leg　of　the　male　bird；　that　was　planted　in　his　breast
while　it　removed　tufts　of　his　wool　with　its　hooked　beak；　and　leapt
boldly　from　the　nest；　which　had　become　too　hot　to　hold　him。　　The　eagle's
outspread　wings　broke　his　fall；　for　they　acted　as　a　parachute；　and　so
did　Umbezi；　upon　whom　he　chanced　to　land。　　Springing　from　the　prostrate
shape　of　the　chief；　who　now　had　a　bruise　in　front　to　match　that　behind；
Scowl；　covered　with　pecks　and　scratches；　ran　like　a　lamp…lighter；
leaving　me　to　collect　my　second　gun；　which　he　had　dropped　at　the　bottom
of　the　tree；　but　fortunately　without　injuring　it。　　The　Kafirs　gave　him
another　name　after　that　encounter；　which　meant
〃He…who…fights…birds…and…gets…the…worst…of…it。〃

Well；　we　escaped　from　the　line　of　the　smoke；　a　dishevelled　trioindeed；
Umbezi　had　nothing　left　on　him　except　his　head　ringand　shouted　for　the
others；　if　perchance　they　had　not　been　trodden　to　death　in　the　rush。　
The　first　to　arrive　was　Saduko；　who　looked　quite　calm　and　untroubled；
but　stared　at　us　in　astonishment；　and　asked　coolly　what　we　had　been
doing　to　get　in　such　a　state。　　I　replied　in　appropriate　language；　and
asked　in　turn　how　he　had　managed　to　remain　so　nicely　dressed。

He　did　not　answer；　but　I　believe　the　truth　was　that　he　had　crept　into　a
large　ant…bear's　holesmall　blame　to　him；　to　be　frank。　　Then　the
remainder　of　our　party　turned　up　one　by　one；　some　of　them　looking　very
blown；　as　though　they　had　run　a　long　way。　　None　were　missing；　except
those　who　had　fired　the　reeds；　and　they　thought　it　well　to　keep　clear
for　a　good　many　hours。　　I　believe　that　afterwards　they　regretted　not
having　taken　a　longer　leave　of　absence；　but　when　they　finally　did　arrive
I　was　in　no　condition　to　note　what　passed　between　them　and　their
outraged　chief。

Being　collected；　the　question　arose　what　we　should　do。　　Of　course；　I
wished　to