the story of an african farm-第6章

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kinsman；'　and　so　Bonaparte　Blenkins　became　my　nameBonaparte　Blenkins。　

Yes；　sir；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃there　is　a　stream　on　my　maternal　side　that

connects　me　with　a　stream　on　his　maternal　side。〃



The　German　made　a　sound　of　astonishment。



〃The　connection；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃is　one　which　could　not　be　easily

comprehended　by　one　unaccustomed　to　the　study　of　aristocratic　pedigrees；

but　the　connection　is　close。〃



〃Is　it　possible！〃　said　the　German；　pausing　in　his　work　with　much　interest

and　astonishment。　　〃Napoleon　an　Irishman！〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃on　the　mother's　side；　and　that　is　how　we　are

related。　　There　wasn't　a　man　to　beat　him；〃　said　Bonaparte；　stretching

himself〃not　a　man　except　the　Duke　of　Wellington。　　And　it's　a　strange

coincidence；〃　added　Bonaparte；　bending　forward；　〃but　he　was　a　connection　of

mine。　　His　nephew；　the　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew；　married　a　cousin　of

mine。　　She　was　a　woman！　　See　her　at　one　of　the　court　ballsamber　satin

daisies　in　her　hair。　　Worth　going　a　hundred　miles　to　look　at　her！　　Often

seen　her　there　myself；　sir！〃



The　German　moved　the　leather　thongs　in　and　out；　and　thought　of　the　strange

vicissitudes　of　human　life；　which　might　bring　the　kinsman　of　dukes　and

emperors　to　his　humble　room。



Bonaparte　appeared　lost　among　old　memories。



〃Ah；　that　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew！〃　he　broke　forth　suddenly；　〃many's

the　joke　I've　had　with　him。　　Often　came　to　visit　me　at　Bonaparte　Hall。　

Grand　place　I　had　thenpark；　conservatory；　servants。　　He　had　only　one

fault；　that　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew；〃　said　Bonaparte；　observing　that

the　German　was　deeply　interested　in　every　word；　〃He　was　a　cowardwhat　you

might　call　a　coward。　　You've　never　been　in　Russia；　I　suppose？〃　said

Bonaparte；　fixing　his　crosswise　looking　eyes　on　the　German's　face。



〃No；　no；〃　said　the　old　man　humbly。　　〃France；　England；　Germany；　a　little　in

this　country；　it　is　all　I　have　travelled。〃



〃I；　my　friend；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃I　have　been　in　every　country　in　the　world；

and　speak　every　civilised　language；　excepting　only　Dutch　and　German。　　I

wrote　a　book　of　my　travelsnoteworthy　incidents。　　Publisher　got　it

cheated　me　out　of　it。　　Great　rascals　those　publishers！　　Upon　one　occasion

the　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew　and　I　were　travelling　in　Russia。　　All　of　a

sudden　one　of　the　horses　dropped　down　dead　as　a　doornail。　　There　we　were

cold　nightsnow　four　feet　thickgreat　forestone　horse　not　being　able　to

move　the　sledgenight　coming　onwolves。



〃'Spree！'　says　the　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew。



〃'Spree；　do　you　call　it？　says　I。　'Look　out。'



〃There；　sticking　out　under　a　bush；　was　nothing　less　than　the　nose　of　a

bear。　　The　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew　was　up　a　tree　like　a　shot；　I　stood

quietly　on　the　ground；　as　cool　as　I　am　at　this　moment；　loaded　my　gun；　and

climbed　up　the　tree。　　There　was　only　one　bough。



〃'Bon；'　said　the　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew；　'you'd　better　sit　in　front。'



〃'All　right；'　said　I；　'but　keep　your　gun　ready。　　There　are　more　coming。'　

He'd　got　his　face　buried　in　my　back。



〃'How　many　are　there？'　said　he。



〃'Four；'　said　I。



〃'How　many　are　there　now？'　said　he。



〃'Eight；'　said　I。



〃'How　many　are　there　now？'　said　he。



〃'Ten；'　said　I。



〃'Ten！　ten！'　said　he；　and　down　goes　his　gun。



〃'Wallie；'　I　said；　'what　have　you　done？　　We're　dead　men　now。'



〃'Bon；　my　old　fellow；'　said　he；　'I　couldn't　help　it；　my　hands　trembled　so！'



〃'Wall；'　I　said；　turning　round　and　seizing　his　hand；　'Wallie；　my　dear　lad；

good…bye。　　I'm　not　afraid　to　die。　　My　legs　are　longthey　hang　downthe

first　bear　that　comes　and　I　don't　hit　him；　off　goes　my　foot。　　When　he　takes

it　I　shall　give　you　my　gun　and　go。　　You　may　yet　be　saved；　but　tell；　oh；

tell　Mary　Ann　that　I　thought　of　her；　that　I　prayed　for　her。'



〃'Good…bye；　old　fellow；'　said　he。



〃'God　bless　you；'　said　I。



〃By　this　time　the　bears　were　sitting　in　a　circle　all　around　the　tree。　

Yes；〃　said　Bonaparte　impressively；　fixing　his　eyes　on　the　German；　〃a

regular；　exact；　circle。　　The　marks　of　their　tails　were　left　in　the　snow；

and　I　measured　it　afterward；　a　drawing…master　couldn't　have　done　it　better。

It　was　that　saved　me。　　If　they'd　rushed　on　me　at　once；　poor　old　Bon　would

never　have　been　here　to　tell　this　story。　　But　they　came　on；　sir；

systematically；　one　by　one。　　All　the　rest　sat　on　their　tails　and　waited。　

The　first　fellow　came　up；　and　I　shot　him；　the　second　fellowI　shot　him；

the　thirdI　shot　him。　　At　last　the　tenth　came；　he　was　the　biggest　of　all

the　leader；　you　may　say。



〃'Wall；'　I　said；　'give　me　your　hand。　　My　fingers　are　stiff　with　the　cold；

there　is　only　one　bullet　left。　　I　shall　miss　him。　　While　he　is　eating　me

you　get　down　and　take　your　gun；　and　live；　dear　friend；　live　to　remember　the

man　who　gave　his　life　for　you！'　　By　that　time　the　bear　was　at　me。　　I　felt

his　paw　on　my　trousers。



〃'Oh；　Bonnie！　　Bonnie！'　said　the　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew。　　But　I　just

took　my　gun　and　put　the　muzzle　to　the　bear's　earover　he　felldead！〃



Bonaparte　Blenkins　waited　to　observe　what　effect　his　story　had　made。　　Then

he　took　out　a　dirty　white　handkerchief　and　stroked　his　forehead；　and　more

especially　his　eyes。



〃It　always　affects　me　to　relate　that　adventure；〃　he　remarked；　returning　the

handkerchief　to　his　pocket。　　〃Ingratitudebase；　vile　ingratitudeis

recalled　by　it！　　That　man；　that　man；　who　but　for　me　would　have　perished　in

the　pathless　wilds　of　Russia；　that　man　in　the　hour　of　my　adversity　forsook

me。〃　　The　German　looked　up。　　〃Yes；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃I　had　money；　I　had

lands；　I　said　to　my　wife：　　'There　is　Africa；　a　struggling　country；　they

want　capital；　they　want　men　of　talent；　they　want　men　of　ability　to　open　up

that　land。　　Let　us　go。'



〃I　bought　eight　thousand　pounds'　worth　of　machinerywinnowing；　plowing；

reaping　machines；　I　loaded　a　ship　with　them。　　Next　steamer　I　came　out

wife；　children；　all。　　Got　to　the　Cape。　　Where　is　the　ship　with　the　things？

Lostgone　to　the　bottom！　　And　the　box　with　the　money？　　Lostnothing

saved！



〃My　wife　wrote　to　the　Duke　of　Wellington's　nephew；　I　didn't　wish　her　to；

she　did　it　without　my　knowledge。



〃What　did　the　man　whose　life　I　saved　do？　　Did　he　send　me　thirty　thousand

pounds？　say；　'Bonaparte；　my　brother；　here　is　a　crumb？'　　No；　he　sent　me

nothing。



〃My　wife　said；　'Write。'　　I　said；　'Mary　Ann；　NO。　　While　these　hands　have

power　to　work；　NO。　　While　this　frame　has　power　to　endure；　NO。　　Never　shall

it　be　said　that　Bonaparte　Blenkins　asked　of　any　man。'〃



The　man's　noble　independence　touched　the　German。



〃Your　case　is　hard；　yes；　that　is　hard；〃　said　the　German；　shaking　his　head。



Bonaparte　took　another　draught　of　the　soup；　leaned　back　against　the

pillows；　and　sighed　deeply。



〃I　think；〃　he　said　after　a　while；　rousing　himself；　〃I　shall　now　wander　in

the　benign　air；　and　taste　the　gentle　cool　of　evening。　　The　stiffness　hovers

over　me　yet；　exercise　is　beneficial。〃



So　saying；　he　adjusted　his　hat　carefully　on　the　bald　crown　of　his　head；　and

moved　to　the　door。　　After　he　had　gone　the　German　sighed　again　over　his

work：



〃Ah；　Lord！　　So　it　is！　　Ah！〃



He　thought　of　the　ingratitude　of　the　world。



〃Uncle　Otto；〃　said　the　child　in　the　doorway；　〃did　you　ever　hear　of　ten

bears　sitting　on　their　tails　in　a　circle？〃



〃Well；　not　of　ten　exactly：　　but　bears　do　attack　travellers　every　day。　　It

is　nothing　unheard　of；〃　said　the　German。　　〃A　man　of　such　courage；　too！　

Terrible　experience　that！〃



〃And　how　do　we　know　that　the　story　is　true；　Uncle　Otto？〃



The　German's　ire　was　roused。



〃That　is　what　I　do　hate！〃　he　cried。　　〃Know　that　is　true！　　How　do　you　know

that　anything　is　true？　　Because　you　are　told　so。　　If　we　begin　to　question

everythingproof；　proof；　proof；　what　will　we　have　to　believe　left？　　How　do

you　know　the　angel　opened　the　prison　door　for　Peter；　except　that　Peter　said

so？　　How　do　you　know　that　God　talked　to　Moses；　except　that　Moses　wrote　it？

That　is　what　I　hate！〃



The　girl　knit　her　brows。　　Perhaps　her　thoughts　made　a　longer　journey　than

the　German　dreamed　of；　for；　mark　you；　the　old　dream　little　how　their　words

and　lives　are　texts　and　studies　to　the　generation　that　shall　succeed　them。

Not　what　we　are　taught；　but　what　we　see；　makes　us；　and　the　child　gathers

the　food　on　which　the　adult　feeds　to　the　end。



When　the　German　looked　up　next　there　was　a　look　of　supreme　satisfaction　in

the　little　mouth　and　the　beautiful　eyes。



〃What　dost　see；　chicken？〃　he　asked。



The　child　said　nothing；　and　an　agonizing　shriek　was　borne　on　the　afternoon

breeze。



〃Oh；　God！　my　God！　　I　am　killed！〃　cried　the　voice　of　Bonaparte；　as　he；　with

wide　open　mouth　and　shaking　flesh；　fell　into　the　room；　followed　by　a　half…

grown　ostrich；　who　put　its　head　in　at　the　door；　opened　its　beak　at　him；　and

went　away。



〃Shut　the　door！　shut　the　door！　　As　you　value　my　life；　shut　the　door！〃　cried

Bonaparte；　sinking　into　a　chair；　his　face　blue　and　white；　with　a

greenishness　about　the　mouth。　　〃Ah；　my　friend；〃　he　said　tremulously；

〃eternity　has　looked　me　in　the　face！　　My　life's　thread　hung　upon　a　cord！　

The　valley　of　the　shadow　of　death！〃　said　Bonaparte；　seizing　the　German's

arm。



〃Dear；　dear；　dear！〃　said　the　German；　who　had　closed　the　lower　half　of　the

door；　and　stood　much　concerned　beside　the　stranger；　〃you　have　had　a　fright。

I　never　knew　so　young　a　bird　to　chase　before；　but　they　will　take　dislikes

to　certain　people。　　I　sent　a　boy　away　once　because　a　bird　would　chase　him。

Ah；　dear；　dear！〃



〃When　I　looked　round；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃the　red　and　yawning　cavity　was

above　me；　and　the　reprehensible　paw　raised　to　strike　me。　　My　nerves；〃　said

Bonaparte；　suddenly　growing　faint；　〃always　delicatehighly　strungare

brokenbroken！　　You　could　not　give　a　little　wine；　a　little　brandy　my

friend？〃



The　old　German　hurried　away　to　the　bookshelf；　and　took　from　behind　the

books　a　small　bottle；　half　of　whose　contents　he　poured　into　a　cup。　

Bonaparte　drained　it　eagerly。



〃How　do　you　feel　now？〃　asked　the　German；　looking　at　him　with　much　sympathy。



〃A　little；　slightly；　better。〃



The　German　went　out　to　pick　up　the　battered　chimneypot　which　had　fallen

before　the　door。



〃I　am　sorry　you　got　the　fright。　　The　birds　are　bad　things　till　you　know

them；〃　he　said　sympathetically；　as　he　put　the　hat　down。



〃My　friend；〃　said　Bonaparte；　holding　out　his　hand；　〃I　forgive　you；　do　not

be　disturbed。　　Whatever　the　consequences；　I　forgive　you。　　I　know；　I

believe；　it　was　with　no　ill…intent　that　you　allowed　me　to　go　out。　　Give　me

your　hand。　　I　have　no　ill…feeling；　none！〃



〃You　are　very　kind；〃　said　the　German；　taking　the　extended　hand；　and　feeling

suddenly　convinced　that　he　was　receiving　magnanimous　forgiveness　for　some

great　injury；　〃you　are　very　kind。〃



〃Don't　mention　it；〃　said　Bonaparte。



He　knocked　out　the　crown　of　his　caved…in　old　hat；　placed　it　on　the　table

before　him；　leaned　his　elbows　on　the