stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第1节
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STORIES
STORIES
by English Authors in Africa
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STORIES
THE MYSTERY OF SASASSA
VALLEY
BY A。 CONAN DOYLE
Do I know why Tom Donahue is called 〃Lucky Tom〃？ Yes； I do； and
that is more than one in ten of those who call him so can say。 I have
knocked about a deal in my time； and seen some strange sights； but none
stranger than the way in which Tom gained that sobriquet； and his fortune
with it。 For I was with him at the time。 Tell it？ Oh； certainly； but it is a
longish story and a very strange one； so fill up your glass again； and light
another cigar； while I try to reel it off。 Yes； a very strange one； beats some
fairy stories I have heard； but it's true； sir； every word of it。 There are men
alive at Cape Colony now who'll remember it and confirm what I say。
Many a time has the tale been told round the fire in Boers' cabins from
Orange state to Griqualand； yes； and out in the bush and at the diamond…
fields too。
I'm roughish now； sir； but I was entered at the Middle Temple once；
and studied for the bar。 Tomworse luck！was one of my fellow… students；
and a wildish time we had of it； until at last our finances ran short； and we
were compelled to give up our so…called studies； and look about for some
part of the world where two young fellows with strong arms and sound
constitutions might make their mark。 In those days the tide of emigration
had scarcely begun to set in toward Africa； and so we thought our best
chance would be down at Cape Colony。 Well；to make a long story short；…
…we set sail； and were deposited in Cape Town with less than five pounds
in our pockets； and there we parted。 We each tried our hands at many
things； and had ups and downs； but when； at the end of three years； chance
led each of us up…country and we met again； we were； I regret to say； in
almost as bad a plight as when we started。
Well； this was not much of a commencement； and very disheartened
we were； so disheartened that Tom spoke of going back to England and
getting a clerkship。 For you see we didn't know that we had played out all
our small cards； and that the trumps were going to turn up。 No； we thought
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our 〃hands〃 were bad all through。 It was a very lonely part of the country
that we were in； inhabited by a few scattered farms； whose houses were
stockaded and fenced in to defend them against the Kaffirs。 Tom Donahue
and I had a little hut right out in the bush； but we were known to possess
nothing； and to be handy with our revolvers； so we had little to fear。 There
we waited； doing odd jobs； and hoping that something would turn up。 Well；
after we had been there about a month something did turn up upon a
certain night； something which was the making of both of us； and it's
about that night； sir； that I'm going to tell you。 I remember it well。 The
wind was howling past our cabin； and the rain threatened to burst in our
rude window。 We had a great wood fire crackling and sputtering on the
hearth； by which I was sitting mending a whip； while Tom was lying in his
bunk groaning disconsolately at the chance which had led him to such a
place。
〃Cheer up； Tomcheer up；〃 said I。 〃No man ever knows what may be
awaiting him。〃
〃Ill luck； ill luck； Jack；〃 he answered。 〃I always was an unlucky dog。
Here have I been three years in this abominable country； and I see lads
fresh from England jingling the money in their pockets； while I am as poor
as when I landed。 Ah； Jack； if you want to keep your head above water； old
friend； you must try your fortune away from me。〃
〃Nonsense； Tom； you're down in your luck to…night。 But hark！ Here's
some one coming outside。 Dick Wharton； by the tread； he'll rouse you； if
any man can。〃
Even as I spoke the door was flung open； and honest Dick Wharton；
with the water pouring from him； stepped in； his hearty red face looming
through the haze like a harvest…moon。 He shook himself； and after greeting
us sat down by the fire to warm himself。
〃Where away； Dick； on such a night as this？〃 said I。 〃You'll find the
rheumatism a worse foe than the Kaffirs； unless you keep more regular
hours。〃
Dick was looking unusually serious； almost frightened； one would say；
if one did not know the man。 〃Had to go；〃 he replied〃had to go。 One of
Madison's cattle was seen straying down Sasassa Valley； and of course
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none of our blacks would go down /that/ valley at night； and if we had
waited till morning； the brute would have been in Kaffirland。〃
〃Why wouldn't they go down Sasassa Valley at night？〃 asked Tom。
〃Kaffirs； I suppose；〃 said I。
〃Ghosts；〃 said Dick。
We both laughed。
〃I suppose they didn't give such a matter…of…fact fellow as you a sight
of their charms？〃 said Tom； from the bunk。
〃Yes；〃 said Dick； seriously； 〃yes； I saw what the niggers talk about；
and I promise you； lads； I don't want ever to see it again。〃
Tom sat up in his bed。 〃Nonsense； Dick； you're joking； man！ Come；
tell us all about it； the legend first； and your own experience afterward。
Pass him over the bottle； Jack。〃
〃Well； as to the legend；〃 began Dick。 〃It seems that the niggers have
had it handed down to them that Sasassa Valley is haunted by a frightful
fiend。 Hunters and wanderers passing down the defile have seen its
glowing eyes under the shadows of the cliff； and the story goes that
whoever has chanced to encounter that baleful glare has had his after…life
blighted by the malignant power of this creature。 Whether that be true or
not；〃 continued Dick； ruefully； 〃I may have an opportunity of judging for
myself。〃
〃Go on； Dickgo on；〃 cried Tom。 〃Let's hear about what you saw。〃
〃Well； I was groping down the valley； looking for that cow of
Madison's； and I had； I suppose； got half…way down； where a black craggy
cliff juts into the ravine on the right； when I halted to have a pull at my
flask。 I had my eye fixed at the time upon the projecting cliff I have
mentioned； and noticed nothing unusual about it。 I then put up my flask
and took a step or two forward； when in a moment there burst； apparently
from the base of the rock； about eight feet from the ground and a hundred
yards from me； a strange； lurid glare； flickering and oscillating； gradually
dying away and then reappearing again。 No； no； I've seen many a glow…
worm and fireflynothing of that sort。 There it was； burning away； and I
suppose I gazed at it； trembling in every limb； for fully ten minutes。 Then I
took a step forward； when instantly it vanished； vanished like a candle
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blown out。 I stepped back again； but it was some time before I could find
the exact spot and position from which it was visible。 At last； there it was；
the weird reddish light； flickering away as before。 Then I screwed up my
courage； and made for the rock； but the ground was so uneven that it was
impossible to steer straight； and though I walked along the whole base of
the cliff； I could see nothing。 Then I made tracks for home； and I can tell
you； boys； that； until you remarked it； I never knew it was raining； the
whole way along。 But hollo！ what's the matter with Tom？〃
What indeed？ Tom was now sitting with his legs over the side of the
bunk； and his whole face betraying excitement so intense as to be almost
painful。 〃The fiend would have two eyes。 How many lights did you see；
Dick？ Speak out！〃
〃Only one。〃
〃Hurrah！〃 cried Tom； 〃that's better。〃 Whereupon he kicked the blankets
into the middle of the room； and began pacing up and down with long
feverish strides。 Suddenly he stopped opposite Dick； and laid his hand
upon his shoulder。 〃I say； Dick； could we get to Sasassa Valley b
