stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第13节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Did I not tell you that somebody would be drowned by those waves？
Watch that boat！ watch it！ it is doomed； and the scoundrel； the villain； who
is in it will never reach the shore alive！〃 and he hissed the last word
through his clenched teeth。
〃Good God； Jackson！〃 I said； 〃don't say that！ Look； there is a white
woman in the boat！〃
At the words his jaw dropped； his form； which a moment before had
swayed with excitement； became rigid； and his eyes stared at me as if he
knew； but comprehended not； what I had said。 Then he slowly turned his
face toward the sea； and； as he did so； the mighty breaker that had been
coming up astern of the boat curled over it。 For a moment or two it rushed
forward； a solid body of water； carrying the boat with it； and in those
moments I saw； to my horror； Sooka give one sweep with his oar； which
threw the boat's side toward the roller。 I saw the boat…boys leap clear of the
boat into the surf； I saw the agonised faces of the man and the woman
upturned to the wave above them； and then the billow broke； and nothing
was seen but a sheet of frothy water。 The boat and those in it had
disappeared。 For the crew I had little concernI knew they would come
ashore safely enough； but for Mr。 Bransome and the woman； whoever she
was； there was little hope。 They had not had time to throw themselves into
the sea before the boat had capsized； and their clothing would sink them in
such a surf； even if they had escaped being crushed by the boat。 Besides； I
feared there had been some foul play on the part of Sooka。 Quickly as he
had done it； I had seen him with his oar put the boat beyond the possibility
of escaping from the wave； and I remembered how he had been treated by
Bransome。
With such thoughts I ran along the cliff to the pathway that led down
to the beach； and as I ran； I saw Jackson running before me； not steadily or
rightly； but heavily； and swaying from side to side as he went。 Quickly I
43
… Page 44…
STORIES
passed him； but he gave no sign that he knew any one was near him； and
as I leaped down on to the first ledge of rock below me； I saw that he was
not following me； but had disappeared among the brushwood。
When I got down to the beach； I found that the boat's crew had reached
the shore in safety； but of the two passengers nothing had been seen。 The
capsized boat was sometimes visible as it lifted on the rollers； but through
my glass I saw that no one was clinging to it。 I called for Sooka； but Sooka
was missing。 Every one had seen him land； but he had disappeared
mysteriously。 In vain I questioned the other boys as to the cause of the
disaster。 The only answer I could get out of them was an appeal to look to
the sea and judge for myself。 The woman was a white woman from the big
ship； was all they could say about her； and； negro…like； they evidently
considered the loss of a woman or so of very little consequence。
All I could do was to set a watch along the beach to look for the bodies
when they should be washed ashore； and this done； I returned to the
factory。 My next desire was to find Sooka。 He could hardly have gone far；
so I sent for a runner to take a message to the native king under whose
protection we on the Point were； and after whom the Point was called； and
who was bound to find the missing man for me if he could； or if he had not
been bribed to let him pass。
In my sorrow at what had happened； and in my doubt as to the cause
of it； I had forgotten all about Jackson； but after I had despatched my
messenger to the king； I went to look for him。 I discovered him crouching
in a corner of his own bedroom in the dark。
〃Are they found？〃 he asked； in a voice so hollow and broken that I
hardly knew it； and before I could answer him； he whispered to himself；
〃No； no； they are drowneddrowned。〃
I tried to lead him into the lighted dining…room； but he only crouched
the closer to his corner。 At length by the promise of the ever…potent
temptation； liquor； I got him to leave the room。 He could scarcely walk；
though； now； and he trembled so violently that I was glad to give him part
of a bottle of brandy that I had by me。 He filled a tumbler half full of the
spirits； and drank it off。 This put strength into him； and for a little he was
calm； but as he again and again applied himself to the bottle； he became
44
… Page 45…
STORIES
drunk； and swore at me for my impudence in giving orders without his
sanction。 On this I tried to take the bottle from him； but he clutched it so
firmly that I had to let it go； whereupon he immediately put it to his lips
and swallowed the rest of the liquor that was in it。 After which he gave a
chuckle； and staggered to a couch； on which he tumbled； and lay with his
eyes open for a long while。 At last he fell asleep； but I was too nervous to
do likewise； and sat watching him the most of the night； at least； when I
awoke it was daylight； and it seemed to me that I had been asleep for a
few minutes。
Jackson was still lying on the couch； and his face was calm and
peaceful as he softly breathed。 The morning； too； was fine； and as I walked
on to the veranda I saw the sea sparkling in the sunlight； and there was not
a sound from it save a far…off and drowsy murmur。 Not a sign remained on
its broad surface of the wrath of the day before。 It was wonderfully calm。
Lying here and there on the veranda； rolled up in their clothes； were the
servants of the factory； sleeping soundly on the hard planks。
Presently； as the sun rose in the heavens and warmed the air； the place
began to show signs of life； and one of the watch that I had set on the
beach came running across the yard to tell me that the bodies had come
ashore。
Immediately upon hearing this I called the hammock…bearers together；
and going down to the beach； I went a considerable way along it toward a
dark spot； which I knew to be a group of natives。 On coming up to the
group； I found at least fifty negroes collected round the drowned man and
woman； all chattering and squabbling among themselves； and probably
over the plunder； for I saw that the bodies had been stripped to their
underclothing。 Rushing into the crowd； with the aid of a stick I dispersed it；
so far as to make the wretches stand back。 The man； of course； was
Bransome； there was no doubt as to that； although he had received a
terrible blow on the left temple； most likely from the pointed stem of the
boat as it had toppled over upon him； and his face was distorted and
twisted to one side。 The woman was evidently English； young and pretty；
although her long hair； heavy and wet； was polluted by the sand that stuck
to it； and her half…open eyes were filled with the same。 On her lips there
45
… Page 46…
STORIES
lingered a slight smile。 She was of middle height； of slender figure； and
delicately nurtured； as the small bare feet and little hands showed。 As I
looked at the latter I saw a wedding…ring on her finger； and I thought； 〃It is
Bransome's wife。〃 I tried to take the ring away； but it would not come off
her fingerwhich I might have known； because the natives would not have
left it there had they been able to remove it。 I then ordered the bearers to
lay the bodies in the hammocks； and that done； our little party wended its
way along the shore homeward； while the natives I had dispersed followed
one after another in African fashion。
Arrived at the factory； I bade the boys place the bodies side by side on
a spare bed in an empty room； and then I sent them to dig a grave in the
little burial…ground on the Point； where two or three worm… eaten wooden
crosses marked the resting…places of former agents of Messrs。 Flint
Brothers。
As quick interment was necessary in such a climate； even on that very
day； I went to call Jackson in order that he might perform the duty that was
histhat of reading the burial service over the dead； and of sealing up the
desk and effects of Mr。 Bransome。 But Jackson was n
