the land of footprints-第20章

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ple；　the　Kikuyus　are　docile　but　mediocre　porters；　the　Kavirondos　strong　carriers　but　turbulent　and　difficult　to　handle。　You　are　very　lucky　if　you　happen　on　a　camp　jester；　one　of　the　sort　that　sings；　shouts；　or　jokes　while　on　the　march。　He　is　probably　not　much　as　a　porter；　but　he　is　worth　his　wages　nevertheless。　He　may　or　may　not　aspire　to　his　giddy　eminence。　We　had　one　droll…faced　little　Kavirondo　whose　very　expression　made　one　laugh；　and　whose　rueful　remarks　on　the　harshness　of　his　lot　finally　ended　by　being　funny。　His　name　got　to　be　a　catchword　in　camp。

〃Mualo！　Mualo！〃　the　men　would　cry；　as　they　heaved　their　burdens　to　their　heads；　and　all　day　long　their　war　cry　would　ring　out；　〃Mualo！〃　followed　by　shrieks　of　laughter。

Of　the　other　type　was　Sulimani；　a　big；　one…eyed　Monumwezi；　who　had　a　really　keen　wit　coupled　with　an　earnest；　solemn　manner。　This　man　was　no　buffoon；　however；　and　he　was　a　good　porter；　always　at　or　near　the　head　of　the　procession。　In　the　great　jungle　south　of　Kenia　we　came　upon　Cuninghame。　When　the　head　of　our　safari　reached　the　spot　Sulimani　left　the　ranks　and；　his　load　still　aloft　danced　solemnly　in　front　of　Cuninghame；　chanting　something　in　a　loud　tone　of　voice。　Then　with　a　final　deep　〃Jambo！〃　to　his　old　master　he　rejoined　the　safari。　When　the　day　had　stretched　to　weariness　and　the　men　had　fallen　to　a　sullen　plodding；　Sulimani's　vigorous　song　could　always　set　the　safari　sticks　tapping　the　sides　of　the　chop　boxes。

He　carried　part　of　the　tent；　and　the　next　best　men　were　entrusted　with　the　cook　outfit　and　our　personal　effects。　It　was　a　point　of　honour　with　these　men　to　be　the　first　in　camp。　The　rear；　the　very　extreme　and　straggling　rear；　was　brought　up　by　worthless　porters　with　loads　of　cornmeal…and　the　weary　askaris　whose　duty　it　was　to　keep　astern　and　herd　the　lot　in。



XIV。　A　DAY　ON　THE　ISIOLA

Early　one　morning…we　were　still　on　the　Isiola…we　set　forth　on　our　horses　to　ride　across　the　rolling；　brush…grown　plain。　Our　intention　was　to　proceed　at　right　angles　to　our　own　little　stream　until　we　had　reached　the　forest　growth　of　another；　which　we　could　dimly　make　out　eight　or　ten　miles　distant。　Billy　went　with　us；　so　there　were　four　a…horseback。　Behind　us　trudged　the　gunbearers；　and　the　syces；　and　after　them　straggled　a　dozen　or　fifteen　porters。

The　sun　was　just　up；　and　the　air　was　only　tepid　as　yet。　From　patches　of　high　grass　whirred　and　rocketed　grouse　of　two　sorts。　They　were　so　much　like　our　own　ruffed　grouse　and　prairie　chicken　that　I　could　with　no　effort　imagine　myself　once　more　a　boy　in　the　coverts　of　the　Middle　West。　Only　before　us　we　could　see　the　stripes　of　trotting　zebra　disappearing；　and　catch　the　glint　of　light　on　the　bayonets　of　the　oryx。　Two　giraffes　galumphed　away　to　the　right。　Little　grass　antelope　darted　from　clump　to　clump　of　grass。　Once　we　saw　gerenuk…oh；　far　away　in　an　impossible　distance。　Of　course　we　tried　to　stalk　them；　and　as　usual　we　failed。　The　gerenuk　we　had　come　to　look　upon　as　our　Lesser　Hoodoo。

The　beast　is　a　gazelle　about　as　big　as　a　black…tailed　deer。　His　peculiarity　is　his　excessively　long　neck；　a　good　deal　on　the　giraffe　order。　With　it　he　crops　browse　above　high　tide　mark　of　other　animals；　especially　when　as　often　happens　he　balances　cleverly　on　his　hind　legs。　By　means　of　it　also　he　can；　with　his　body　completely　concealed；　look　over　the　top　of　ordinary　cover　and　see　you　long　before　you　have　made　out　his　inconspicuous　little　head。　Then　he　departs。　He　seems　to　have　a　lamentable　lack　of　healthy　curiosity　about　you。　In　that　respect　he　should　take　lessons　from　the　kongoni。　After　that　you　can　follow　him　as　far　as　you　please；　you　will　get　only　glimpses　at　three　or　four　hundred　yards。

We　remounted　sadly　and　rode　on。　The　surface　of　the　ground　was　rather　soft；　scattered　with　round　rocks　the　size　of　a　man's　head；　and　full　of　pig　holes。

〃Cheerful　country　to　ride　over　at　speed；〃　remarked　Billy。　Later　in　the　day　we　had　occasion　to　remember　that　statement。

The　plains　led　us　ever　on。　First　would　be　a　band　of　scattered　brush　growing　singly　and　in　small　clumps：　then　a　little　open　prairie；　then　a　narrow；　long　grass　swale；　then　perhaps　a　low；　long　hill　with　small　single　trees　and　rough；　volcanic　footing。　Ten　thousand　things　kept　us　interested。　Game　was　everywhere；　feeding　singly；　in　groups；　in　herds；　game　of　all　sizes　and　descriptions。　The　rounded　ears　of　jackals　pointed　at　us　from　the　grass。　Hundreds　of　birds　balanced　or　fluttered　about　us；　birds　of　all　sizes　from　the　big　ground　hornbill　to　the　littlest　hummers　and　sun　birds。　Overhead；　across　the　wonderful　variegated　sky　of　Africa　the　broad…winged　carrion　hunters　and　birds　of　prey　wheeled。　In　all　our　stay　on　the　Isiola　we　had　not　seen　a　single　rhino　track；　so　we　rode　quite　care　free　and　happy。

Finally；　across　a　glade；　not　over　a　hundred　and　fifty　yards　away；　we　saw　a　solitary　bull　oryx　standing　under　a　bush。　B。　wanted　an　oryx。　We　discussed　this　one　idly。　He　looked　to　be　a　decent　oryx；　but　nothing　especial。　However；　he　offered　a　very　good　shot；　so　B。；　after　some　hesitation；　decided　to　take　it。　It　proved　to　be　by　far　the　best　specimen　we　shot；　the　horns　measuring　thirty…six　and　three　fourths　inches！　Almost　immediately　after；　two　of　the　rather　rare　striped　hyenas　leaped　from　the　grass　and　departed　rapidly　over　the　top　of　a　hill。　We　opened　fire；　and　F。　dropped　one　of　them。　By　the　time　these　trophies　were　prepared；　the　sun　had　mounted　high　in　the　heavens；　and　it　was　getting　hot。

Accordingly　we　abandoned　that　still　distant　river　and　swung　away　in　a　wide　circle　to　return　to　camp。

Several　minor　adventures　brought　us　to　high　noon　and　the　heat　of　the　day。　B。　had　succeeded　in　drawing　a　prize；　one　of　the　Grevy's　or　mountain　zebra。　He　and　the　gunbearers　engaged　themselves　with　that；　while　we　sat　under　the　rather　scanty　shade　of　a　small　thorn　tree　and　had　lunch。　Here　we　had　a　favourable　chance　to　observe　that　very　common；　but　always　wonderful　phenomenon；　the　gathering　of　the　carrion　birds。　Within　five　minutes　after　the　stoop　of　the　first　vulture　above　the　carcass；　the　sky　immediately　over　that　one　spot　was　fairly　darkened　with　them。　They　were　as　thick　as　midges…or　as　ducks　used　to　be　in　California。　All　sizes　were　there　from　the　little　carrion　crows　to　the　great　dignified　vultures　and　marabouts　and　eagles。　The　small　fry　flopped　and　scolded；　and　rose　and　fell　in　a　dense　mass；　the　marabouts　walked　with　dignified　pace　to　and　fro　through　the　grass　all　about。　As　far　as　the　eye　could　penetrate　the　blue；　it　could　make　out　more　and　yet　more　of　the　great　soarers　stooping　with　half　bent　wings。　Below　we　could　see　uncertainly　through　the　shimmer　of　the　mirage　the　bent　forms　of　the　men。

We　ate　and　waited；　and　after　a　little　we　dozed。　I　was　awakened　suddenly　by　a　tremendous　rushing　roar；　like　the　sound　of　a　not　too　distant　waterfall。　The　group　of　men　were　plodding　toward　us　carrying　burdens。　And　like　plummets　the　birds　were　dropping　straight　down　from　the　heavens；　spreading　wide　their　wings　at　the　last　moment　to　check　their　speed。　This　made　the　roaring　sound　that　had　awakened　me。

A　wide　spot　in　the　shimmer　showed　black　and　struggling　against　the　ground。　I　arose　and　walked　over；　meeting　halfway　B。　and　the　men　carrying　the　meat。　It　took　me　probably　about　two　minutes　to　reach　the　place　where　the　zebra　had　been　killed。　Hundreds；　perhaps　thousands；　of　the　great　birds　were　standing　idly　about；　a　dozen　or　so　were　flapping　and　scrambling　in　the　centre。　I　stepped　into　view。　With　a　mighty　commotion　they　all　took　wing　clumsily；　awkwardly；　reluctantly。　A　trampled；　bloody　space　and　the　larger　bones；　picked　absolutely　clean；　was　all　that　remained！　In　less　than　two　minutes　the　job　had　been　done！

〃You're　certainly　good　workmen！〃　I　exclaimed；　〃but　I　wonder　how　you　all　make　a　living！〃

We　started　the　men　on　to　camp　with　the　meat；　and　ourselves　rested　under　the　shade。　The　day　had　been　a　full　and　interesting　one；　but　we　considered　it　as　finished。　Remained　only　the　hot　journey　back　to　camp。

After　a　half　hour　we　mounted　again　and　rode　on　slowly。　The　sun　was　very　strong　and　a　heavy　shimmer　clothed　the　plain。　Through　this　shimmer　we　caught　sight　of　something　large　and　black　and　flapping。　It　looked　like　a　crow…or；　better；　a　scare…crow…crippled；　half　flying；　half　running；　with　waving　wings　or　arms；　now　dwindling；　now　gigantic　as　the　mirage　caught　it　up　or　let　it　drop。　As　we　watched；　it　developed；　and　we　made　it　out　to　be　a　porter；　clad　in　a　long；　ragged　black　overcoat；　running　zigzag　through　the　bushes　in　our　direction。

The　moment　we　identified　it　we　spurred　our　horses　forward。　As　my　horse　leaped；　Memba　Sasa　snatched　the　Springfield　from　my　left　hand　and　forced　the　405　Winchester　upon　me。　Clever　Memba　Sasa！　He　no　more　than　we　knew　what　was　up；　but　shrewdly　concluded　that　whatever　it　was　it　needed　a　heavy　gun。

As　we　galloped　to　meet　him；　the　porter　stopped。　We　saw　him　to　be　a　very　long…legged；　raggedy　youth　whom　we　had　nicknamed　the　Marabout　because　of　his　exceedingly　long；　lean　legs；　the　fact　that　his　breeches　were　white；　short　and　baggy；　and　because　he　kept　his　entire　head　shaved　close。　He　called　himself　Fundi；　which　means　The　Expert；　a　sufficient　indication　of　his　confidence　in　himself。

He　awaited　us　leaning　on　his　safari　stick；　panting　heavily；　the　sweat　running　off　his　face　in　splashes。　〃Simba！〃*　said　he；　and　immediately　set　off　on　a　long；　easy　lope　ahead　of　us。　We　pulled　down　to　a　trot　and　followed　him。

*Lion


At　the　end　of　a　half　mile　we　made　out　a　man　up　a　tree。　Fundi；　out　of　breath；　stopped　short　and　pointed　to　this　man。　The　latter；　as　soon　as　he　had　seen　us；　commenced　to　scramble　down。　We　spurred　forward　to　find　out　where　the　lions　had　been　last　seen。

Then　Billy　covered　herself　with　glory　by　seeing　them　first。　She　apprised　us　of　that　fact　with　some　excitement。　We　saw　the　long；　yellow　bodies　of　two　of　them　disappearing　in　the　edge　of　the　brush　about　three　hundred　yards　away。　With　a　wild　whoop　we　tore　after　them　at　a　dead　run。

Then　began　a　wild　ride。　Do　you　remember　Billy's　remark　about　the　nature　of　the　footing？　Before　long　we　closed　in　near　enough　to　catch　occasional　glimpses　of　the　beasts；　bounding　easily　along。　At　that　moment　B。's　horse　went　down　in　a　heap。　None　of　us　thought　for　a　moment　of　pulling　up。　I　looked　back　to　see　B。　getting　up　again；　and　thought　I　caught　fragments　of　encouraging…sounding　language。　Then　my　horse　went　down。　I　managed　to　hold　my　rifle　clear；　and　to　cling　to　the　reins。　Did　you　ever　try　to　get　on　a　somewhat　demoralized　horse　in　a　frantic　hurry；　when　all　your　friends　were　getting　farther　away　every　minute；　and　so　lessening　your　chances　of　being　in　the　fun？　I　began　to　understand　perfectly　B。's　remarks　of　a　moment　before。　However；　on　I　scrambled；　and　soon　overtook　the　hunt。

We　dodged　in　and　out　of　bushes；　and　around　and　over　holes。　Every　few　moments　we　would　catch　a　glimpse　of　one　of　those　silently　bounding　lions；　and　then　we　would　let　out　a　yell。　Also　every　few　moments　one　or　the　other　of　us　would　go　down　in　a　heap；　and　would　scramble　up　and　curse；　and　remount　hastily。　Billy　had　better　luck。　She　had　no　gun；　and　belonged　a　little　in　the　rear　anyway；　but　was　coming　along　game　as　a　badger　for　all　that。

My　own　horse　had　the　legs　of　the　others　quite　easily；　and　for　that　reason　I　was　ahead　far　enough　to　see　the　magni