benita-第34节
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On the morrow the experiment was made。 Mr。 Clifford attempted to
mesmerize his daughter。 All the morning Jacob； who； it now appeared；
had practical knowledge of this doubtful art； tried to instruct him
therein。 In the course of the lesson he informed him that for a short
period in the past； having great natural powers in that direction； he
had made use of them professionally； only giving up the business
because he found it wrecked his health。 Mr。 Clifford remarked that he
had never told him that before。
〃There are lots of things in my life that I have never told you；〃
replied Jacob with a little secret smile。 〃For instance； once I
mesmerized you； although you did not know it； and that is why you
always have to do what I want you to； except when your daughter is
near you； for her influence is stronger than mine。〃
Mr。 Clifford stared at him。
〃No wonder Benita won't let you mesmerize her；〃 he said shortly。
Then Jacob saw his mistake。
〃You are more foolish than I thought；〃 he said。 〃How could I mesmerize
you without your knowing it？ I was only laughing at you。〃
〃I didn't see the laugh；〃 replied Mr。 Clifford uneasily； and they went
on with the lesson。
That afternoon it was put to proofin the cave itself； where Meyer
seemed to think that the influences would be propitious。 Benita； who
found some amusement in the performance； was seated upon the stone
steps underneath the crucifix； one lamp on the altar and others one
each side of her。
In front stood her father； staring at her and waving his hands
mysteriously in obedience to Jacob's directions。 So ridiculous did he
look indeed while thus engaged that Benita had the greatest difficulty
in preventing herself from bursting into laughter。 This was the only
effect which his grimaces and gesticulations produced upon her；
although outwardly she kept a solemn appearance； and even from time to
time shut her eyes to encourage him。 Once； when she opened them again；
it was to perceive that he was becoming very hot and exhausted； and
that Jacob was watching him with such an unpleasant intentness that
she re…closed her eyes that she might not see his face。
It was shortly after this that of a sudden Benita did feel something；
a kind of penetrating power flowing upon her； something soft and
subtle that seemed to creep into her brain like the sound of her
mother's lullaby in the dim years ago。 She began to think that she was
a lost traveller among alpine snows wrapped round by snow； falling；
falling in ten myriad flakes； every one of them with a little heart of
fire。 Then it came to her that she had heard this snow…sleep was
dangerous； the last of all sleeps； and that its victims must rouse
themselves； or die。
Benita roused herself just in timeonly just； for now she was being
borne over the edge of a precipice upon the wings of swans； and
beneath her was darkness wherein dim figures walked with lamps where
their hearts should be。 Oh； how heavy were her eyelids！ Surely a
weight hung to each of them； a golden weight。 There； there； they were
open； and she saw。 Her father had ceased his efforts； he was rubbing
his brow with a red pocket…handkerchief； but behind him； with rigid
arms outstretched； his glowing eyes fastened on her face； stood Jacob
Meyer。 By an effort she sprang to her feet； shaking her head as a dog
does。
〃Have done with this nonsense；〃 she said。 〃It tires me；〃 and snatching
one of the lamps she ran swiftly down the place。
Benita expected that Jacob Meyer would be very angry with her； and
braced herself for a scene。 But nothing of the sort happened。 A while
afterwards she saw the two of them approaching； engaged apparently in
amicable talk。
〃Mr。 Meyer says that I am no mesmerist； love；〃 said her father； 〃and I
can quite believe him。 But for all that it is a weary job。 I am as
tired as I was after our escape from the Matabele。〃
She laughed and answered：
〃To judge by results I agree with you。 The occult is not in your line；
father。 You had better give it up。〃
〃Did you； then； feel nothing？〃 asked Meyer。
〃Nothing at all；〃 she answered； looking him in the eyes。 〃No； that's
wrong； I felt extremely bored and sorry to see my father making
himself ridiculous。 Grey hairs and nonsense of that sort don't go well
together。〃
〃No；〃 he answered。 〃I agree with younot of that sort；〃 and the
subject dropped。
For the next few days； to her intense relief； Benita heard no more of
mesmerism。 To begin with； there was something else to occupy their
minds。 The Matabele； tired of marching round the fortress and singing
endless war…songs； had determined upon an assault。 From their point of
vantage on the topmost wall the three could watch the preparations
which they made。 Trees were cut down and brought in from a great
distance that rude ladders might be fashioned out of them； also spies
wandered round reconnoitring for a weak place in the defences。 When
they came too near the Makalanga fired on them； killing some； so that
they retreated to the camp； which they had made in a fold of ground at
a little distance。 Suddenly it occurred to Meyer that although here
the Matabele were safe from the Makalanga bullets； it was commanded
from the greater eminence； and by way of recreation he set himself to
harass them。 His rifle was a sporting Martini； and he had an ample
supply of ammunition。 Moreover； he was a beautiful marksman； with
sight like that of a hawk。
A few trial shots gave him the range； it was a shade under seven
hundred yards； and then he began operations。 Lying on the top of the
wall and resting his rifle upon a stone； he waited until the man who
was superintending the manufacture of the ladders came out into the
open； when； aiming carefully； he fired。 The soldier； a white…bearded
savage； sprang into the air； and fell backwards； while his companions
stared upwards； wondering whence the bullet had come。
〃Pretty； wasn't it？〃 said Meyer to Benita； who was watching through a
pair of field…glasses。
〃I dare say；〃 she answered。 〃But I don't want to see any more；〃 and
giving the glasses to her father； she climbed down the wall。
But Meyer stayed there； and from time to time she heard the report of
his rifle。 In the evening he told her that he had killed six men and
wounded ten more； adding that it was the best day's shooting which he
could remember。
〃What is the use when there are so many？〃 she asked。
〃Not much；〃 he answered。 〃But it annoys them and amuses me。 Also； it
was part of our bargain that we should help the Makalanga if they were
attacked。〃
〃I believe that you like killing people；〃 she said。
〃I don't mind it； Miss Clifford； especially as they tried to kill you。〃
XVIII
THE OTHER BENITA
At irregular times； when he had nothing else to do； Jacob went on with
his man…shooting； in which Mr。 Clifford joined him； though with less
effect。 Soon it became evident that the Matabele were very much
annoyed by the fatal accuracy of this fire。 Loss of life they did not
mind in the abstract； but when none of them knew but that their own
turn might come next to perish beneath these downward plunging
bullets； the matter wore a different face to them。 To leave their camp
was not easy； since they had made a thorn /boma/ round it； to protect
them in case the Makalanga should make a night sally； also they could
find no other convenient spot。 The upshot of it all was to hurry their
assault； which they delivered before they had prepared sufficient
ladders to make it effective。
At the first break of dawn on the third day after Mr。 Clifford's
attempt at mesmerism； Benita was awakened by the sounds of shouts and
firing。 Having dressed herself hastily； she hurried in the growing
light towards that part of the wall from below which the noise seemed
to come； and climbing it； found her father and Jacob already seated
there； their rifles in hand。
〃The fools are attacking the small gate through which you went out
riding； Miss Clifford； the very worst place that they could have
chosen； although the wall looks very weak there；〃 said the latter。 〃If
those Makalanga have any pluck they ought to teach them a lesson。〃
Then the sun rose and they saw companies of Matabele； who carried
ladders in their hands； rushing onwards through the morning mist till
their sight of them was obstructed by the swell of the hill。 On these
companies the two white men opened fire； with what result they could
not see in that light。 Presently a great shout announced that the
enemy had gained the fosse and were setting up the ladders。 Up to this
time the Makalanga appeared to have done nothing； but now they began
to fire rapidly from the ancient bastions which commanded the entrance
the impi was striving to storm； and soon through the thinning fog they
perceived wounded Matabele staggering and crawling back towards
