stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第17节
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promises from Whitson not to divulge the great secret which he confided
to him。 Whitson agreed at once to join in the enterprise； which was one
after his own heart。
Next day the three met at the big ant…heap； and Whitson was very
much impressed by Ghamba's teeth。 He told Langley afterward that they
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reminded him of a picture of the devil which he had seen in a copy of
〃Pilgrim's Progress。〃 The old man's story appeared； however； consistent
enough； in spite of his peculiar dentition。
So； after a short conversation； Langley and Whitson returned to camp；
having made an appointment to meet Ghamba again on the following
morning at sunrise； so as to finally arrange as to time of starting； etc。 They
went at once to the officer in charge of the detachment and applied for ten
days' leave of absence for the purpose of proceeding to Pietermaritzburg；
which was at once granted。
Next morning they met Ghamba again； and agreed to start on their
expedition that evening。 He explained that they must do all their traveling
by night； and lie by during the day； because it would never do for him；
Ghamba； to run the risk of being recognised by persons whom they might
meet。 For the sake of his Hlubi relations who were living among the
Pondomise at Qumbu； it was absolutely necessary that he should not
appear in the transaction at all。 Were it ever to be even suspected that he
had betrayed the chief； not alone would he be certainly killed； but all his
relations would be shunned by the other natives。 He was an old man； so
for him； personally； nothing mattered very much； but a man is bound to
consider the interests of his family。 Travelling only by night； and lying still
and hidden during the day； were therefore absolutely necessary
stipulations； and Langley and Whitson agreed to them as intelligible and
reasonable。 All being settled； the latter started for the camp； Ghamba
baring his teeth excessively as they walked away。
At dusk on the evening of the same day； Langley and Whitson met
Ghamba once more at the large ant…heap； and the three at once proceeded
on their course。 The only arms taken were revolvers of the government
regulation pattern （breech…loading central fire）。 They carried provisions
calculated to last eight days； but took no blankets on account of having to
travel at night。 When Ghamba volunteered to relieve them of a
considerable share of their respective loads； Langley and Whitson were
filled with grateful surprise。
The plan was as follows： Whitson was to shoot Umhlonhlo； and then
remain in the cave while Langley returned to the camp to report what had
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been done； and cause persons who could identify the body to be sent for。
They seem to have had no scruples as to the deed they meant to do；
certainly Umhlonhlo deserved no more mercy than a beast of prey。 Nor
does it seem to have struck them that possibly they might shoot the wrong
man。 But there was an air of conviction about the manner in which
Ghamba showed his teeth when asked whether he was positive as to the
identity of the man in the cave； that would have dissipated the doubts of
most men。 Besides this； he drew out the written undertaking which they
had delivered to him； and said； with a profoundly businesslike look：
〃Do I not want the money？ Should I take all this trouble if I did not
know what I were doing？〃
They walked all night； only resting once or twice for a few minutes。 It
was found that Ghamba； in spite of his age； was an extremely good walker；
and when they halted at daylight； Langley was so done up that he could
not have held out for another half…hour。 Whitson； the wiry； had not yet felt
the least fatigue。
This march had taken them to the very foot of the Drakensberg range；
and they rested in a valley between two of its main spurs。 Here they
remained all day； comfortably located in a sheltered nook where there was
plenty of dry grass。 Their resting…place was encircled by immense rocks。
Although the surrounding country was desolate to a degree； and neither a
human being nor an animal was to be seen； Ghamba would not hear of
their lighting a fire nor leaving the spot where they rested。 The weather
was clear； and neither too warm nor too cold。 They slept at intervals
during the day； and at evening felt quite recovered from their fatigue。
At nightfall they again started； their course leading steeply up the
gorge in which they had rested。 Although the pathway became more and
more indistinct； Ghamba appeared never to be at a loss。 Langley several
times shuddered； when they passed by the very edge of some immense
precipice； or clambered along some steep mountain…side； where a false
step would have meant destruction。 He began to show signs of fatigue
soon after midnight； so at Ghamba's suggestion a considerable portion of
his load was transferred to the shoulders of Whitson； who seemed to be as
tireless as Ghamba himself。
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At daybreak they halted in the depths of another tremendous gorge
with precipitous sides。 The scenery in this particular area of the
Drakensberg range； the neighbourhood of the Mont aux Sources； is
indescribably grand and impressive； and is quite unlike anything else in
South Africa。 Enormous and fantastically shaped mountains are here
huddled together indiscriminately； and between them wind and double
deep gloomy gorges； along the bottoms of which mighty boulders are
thickly strewn。 On dizzy ledge and steep slope dense thickets of wild
bamboo grow； and a few stunted trees fill some of the less deep clefts；
wherever the sunshine can penetrate。 Splendid as is the scenery； its gloom；
its stillness； its naked crags and peaks； its dark depths that seem to cleave
to the very vitals of the earth； become so oppressive that； after a few days
spent among them； the traveller is filled with repulsion and almost horror。
Few living things have their home there。 You might meet an occasional
〃klipspringer〃 （an antelope； in habits and appearance somewhat like the
chamois）； a wandering troop of baboons； and now and then a herd of eland
in the more grassy areas。 There are said to be a few Bushmen still
haunting the caves； but they are seldom or never seen。
In the afternoon the sun shone into the gorge in which the travellers
were resting； and for a few hours the heat was very oppressive。 Whitson
examined his revolver； removing the cartridges and replacing them by
others。 He then lay down to sleep； asking Langley to remain awake and
keep a lookout。 He had a vague feeling of uneasiness which he could not
overcome。 Langley promised to keep awake； but he was too tired to do so。
He sat with his back against a rock； and； after some futile efforts to keep
his eyes open； fell fast asleep。 By…and…by Ghamba woke him gently； and；
pointing to Whitson； whose revolver lay in the leather case close to his
hand； whispered：
〃Did he not tell you to keep awake？〃
Langley was grateful for this evidence of consideration； but he could
not quite make out how Ghamba had been able to understand what
Whitson had said。 However； when the latter awoke； Langley said nothing
to him about having disobeyed instructions。
Ghamba said that about two hours' walk would now bring them to
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Umhlonhlo's cave； so they started off briskly at dusk。 Their course now led
for some distance along a mountain ledge covered with wild bamboo；
through which the pathway
