stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第16节
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by virtue of his uglinesshe exercised a strange fascination over Langley。
The old man； whose name turned out to be Ghamba； proved himself a
talker after Langley's own heart。 They discussed all sorts of things。
Ghamba startled his hearer by his breadth of experience and his
shrewdness。 He said he was a 〃Hlubi〃 Kaffir from Qumbu； in the territory
of Griqualand East； but that he had for some time past been living in
Basutoland； which is situated just behind the frowning wall of the
Drakensberg； to the southwest of where they were speaking； and not
twenty miles distant。
They talked until it was time for Langley to return to camp。 He was so
pleased at the entertainment afforded by Ghamba that all the tobacco he
had with him found its way into the claw…like hand of that strange…
looking man of many experiences and quaint ideas。 So Langley asked him
to come to the ant…heap again on the following day； and have another talk
at the same hour。 This Ghamba； with a wide and prolonged exposure of his
teeth； readily agreed to do。
Langley was extremely voluble to Whitson that night over his new
acquaintance。 Whitson listened with his usual impassiveness； and then
asked Langley how it was that 〃an old loafing nigger；〃 as he expressed it；
had impressed him so remarkably。 Langley replied that he did not quite
know； but he thought the effect was largely due to the man's teeth。 But all
the same he was 〃a very entertaining old buffer。〃
Next afternoon Langley was so impatient to resume conversation with
his new friend that he repaired to the ant…heap quite half an hour before the
appointed time。 He had not； however； long to wait； as Ghamba soon
appeared； emerging from a donga a couple of hundred yards away。
Langley was more impressed than ever。 Ghamba told him all about the
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Basutos； among whom he had lived； about the old days in Natal； before
even the Dutch occupation； when Tshaka's impis wiped whole tribes out of
existence； of the recent wars in Zululand and the Cape Colony； and as to
the probability of future disturbances。 Charmed as was Langley by the old
man's conversation； he felt that on this occasion there was a little too much
of it； that Ghamba was not nearly so good a listener as he had been on the
previous day； so when the latter at length put a question to him； thus
affording an opportunity for the exercise of his own pentup loquacity；
Langley felt elated； more especially as several inquiries were grouped
together in the one asking。 Ghamba asked whether anything had been
heard of Umhlonhlo； whether the capture of that fugitive rebel was
considered likely； and whether it was true that a reward of five hundred
pounds had been offered by the government for his capture； dead or alive。
Umhlonhlo； it will be remembered； was the Pondomise chief who
rebelled in 1880； treacherously murdered Mr。 Hope； the magistrate of
Qumbu； and his two companions； and who has since been an outlaw with
a price on his head。
Langley replied to the effect that it was quite true such a reward had
been offered as to Umhlonhlo's whereabouts； but that the government
believed him to be in Pondoland； that he was sure to be captured
eventually； that he； Langley； only wished he knew where Umhlonhlo was；
so as to have the chance of making five hundred pounds with which to buy
a certain nice little farm he knew of； and that should he ever succeed in
obtaining the reward； and consequently in taking his discharge and
purchasing the farm； he would be jolly glad if old Ghamba would come
and live with him。 This is only some of what he said； when Langley's
tongue got into motion； he seemed to have some difficulty in stopping it。
However； he paused at last； and then Ghamba； looking very intently at
him； said：
〃Look here； can you keep a secret？〃
Here was a mystery。
〃Rather！〃 said Langley。
〃Will you swear by the name of God that you will not reveal what I
have to tell you？〃
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Langley swore。
Ghamba drew near until his teeth were within a few inches of
Langley's cheek； and said in a whisper：
〃I know where Umhlonhlo is。〃
Langley started； and said in an awed voice：
〃Where is he？〃
〃Wait a bit；〃 said Ghamba； 〃perhaps I will tell you； and perhaps I won't。
I like you； you have given me tobacco； and you are not too proud to come
and talk to a poor old man。 Now； you say you would like to make five
hundred pounds and buy a farm？〃
〃Rather！〃
〃And that you would let me go and live on the farm with you and end
my days in peace？〃
〃I would； gladly。〃
〃Well then； if I take you to where Umhlonhlo is； and you will kill him
and get the money； will you give me twenty…five pounds； and let me keep
a few goats； and grow a few mealies on your land？〃
〃I should think I would。 But how could one man take or kill
Umhlonhlo？ They say he is well armed and that he has a lot of followers
with him。〃
〃Umhlonhlo；〃 said Ghamba； glancing anxiously round as if he feared
the very ant…heaps were listening； 〃is hiding in a cave in the mountain； not
three days' walk from here。 He has not got a single man with him； because
he fears being given up。 He is really in hiding from his own followers now。
My sister is one of his wives； and that is how I know all about it。 I passed
the cave where he lives four nights ago； and saw him sitting by the fire。 He
has only a few women with him。〃
〃And how do you think I should take him？〃
〃Take him？ you should kill him。 I will guide you to the cave by night；
and then you can shoot him as he sits by the fire。〃
Langley； although no coward； was not particularly brave。 He did not
much relish the idea of alone tackling the redoubtable Umhlonhlo； a
savage of muscle； who was reported to be always armed to the teeth。
Moreover； he had no gun； and was but an indifferent shot with a revolver。
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So he thought over the matter for a few moments and then said：
〃Look here； Ghamba； I do not care to tackle this job alone； but if I can
take another man with me； I am on。〃
〃Then you will only get half of the five hundred pounds； and will not
be able to buy the farm。 You need not be afraid； you can shoot him without
his seeing you。〃
〃No；〃 said Langley； after a pause； 〃I will not go alone； but if you will
let me take another man with me it can be managed。 It will make no
difference to you； you will get your twenty…five pounds。〃
〃And how about my going to live on the farm with you？〃
〃Well； I could not buy the farm for two hundred and fifty pounds。
Come； we will give you fifty pounds instead of twenty…five。〃
Ghamba thought for a while and then said：
〃Very well； I consent。 But there need be only one other man； and you
will write down on a piece of paper that you will give me fifty pounds。
When can we start？〃
〃I must speak to the other man； and then we will apply for leave。 We
had better start soon； or else Umhlonhlo may have gone to some other
place of hiding。〃
〃Yes； we must lose no time。〃
〃All right！ Meet me here to…morrow and I will bring my friend。 We
will then settle all about it。〃
〃You must not mention this matter to any one else； and you must make
your friend promise to keep the secret。〃
〃Oh； that's all right！〃 said Langley。 〃Meet me here to…morrow； just
after dinner。〃
Langley went back to camp； Ghamba looking after his retreating figure
with a smile that revealed his teeth in a very striking manner。 Langley was
intensely excited； and exacted （quite unnecessarily） the most solemn
promises from Whitson not to divulge the great secret which he confided
to him。 Whitson agreed at once to join in the enterprise； which
