stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第19节
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the cave curved to the left it ended in a circular chamber about eight paces
in diameter； and at one side of this crouched the four old hags； huddled
together； and mowing and chattering horribly。
Across a cleft about two feet wide； in the right…hand wall of the cave； a
stick was fixed transversely； and hanging to this were some lumps of half…
dried and smoked flesh。 Whitson went up close and examined these
carefully。 He drew back with a shudder； and his face changed from pale to
ashen gray。
He and Langley then went outside and stood for a while in the fresh air。
They could endure； just then； no more of the fetid atmosphere inside。 After
a short time they gathered up some dry twigs and reeds； and set several
little heaps alight at different spots inside。 This had the effect of making
the atmosphere more bearable in the course of a few minutes。 They then
made a larger fire in the middle of the cave； and proceeded to examine it
more closely。
They found several old iron picks； such as are used by natives in
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cultivating their fields； some very filthy skins； a number of earthenware
pots； a few knives； and an axe； but nothing more。
The floor of the cave was of clay； and at one spot it appeared to have
been recently disturbed。 Here Langley began to dig with a pick； which；
just below the surface； struck against some hard substance。 This； when
uncovered； proved to be a bone。 He threw it to one side and dug deeper；
uncovering more bonessome old； and others comparatively fresh； but
emitting a horrible smell。 He stooped and picked one up； but dropped it
immediately； as if it burned him。 It was the lower jawbone of a human
being。
〃Great God！〃 he gasped。 〃What is the meaning of this？〃
〃It means；〃 said Whitson； 〃that we are in a nest of bloody cannibals！〃
Langley dropped like a stone； in a dead faint； so Whitson dragged him
outside； and； leaving him to recover in the open air； returned to the cave。
He then seized the pick and began digging； unearthing some new horror at
every stroke。 A glittering object caught his eye； he picked this up and
found it to be the steel buckle of a woman's belt。 He glanced toward the
cleft in the rock where the lumps of flesh were hanging； and caught his
breath short。 Going outside he made another torch； which he lit； and then
he returned and carefully examined the loosened surface。 Another
glittering object caught his eye。 This； when examined； proved to be an old
silver watch； the appearance of which seemed familiar。 He forced open the
case； and saw； roughly scratched on the inside； the letter D。 He now
recognised it； he remembered having once fixed a glass in this very watch
for Dollond； about a month before the latter's disappearance。 Continuing
his search Whitson found the iron heel…plate of a boot； and a small bunch
of keys。
Whitson drew his revolver； and picking up the torch went into the
terminal chamber。 Four shots； fired in quick succession； reverberated
immediately afterward through the cavern。
Whitson then went outside to Langley； whom he found sitting down
near the fire； looking if possible； more ghastly than before。 The presence
of Whitson seemed； however； to act on him as a kind of tonic； and he soon
pulled himself together sufficiently to assist in piling a quantity of fuel
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upon the already sinking fire； which soon blazed brightly； lighting up the
mouth of the cavern and the space in front of it。 One of the bodies of the
men who had been shot was lying on its side； with the face toward the fire。
Whitson examined the mouth； pushing back the upper lip with a piece of
stick。 He found that the shape of the mouth and the development of the
teeth were the same as Ghamba's。 The other bodies were lying on their
faces； so he did not trouble to examine them。
Whitson then told Langley to follow him； and the two walked down
the foot…path toward where they had left Ghamba。 Him they found lying
motionless in the position in which he had been left about an hour
previously。 They removed the sack and the gag and untied his feet； first
taking the precaution to fasten the belt by one end to his bound hands；
Whitson holding the other。 They then signed to him to proceed toward the
cave； and this he silently did； without making any resistance。 He looked
calmly at the three dead bodies； but said not a word。 Langley held him；
while Whitson again tied his feet together with the belt； and then they
placed him with his back against a rock； facing the fire； which was still
blazing brightly。 His lips were drawn back in a ghastly； mirthless； grin； and
the tusks were revealed from point to insertion。
Langley questioned Ghamba； but he would not speak。 After several
attempts to force him to answer had been vainly made； Whitson said：
〃Now tell him that if he speaks and tells the whole truth he will only
be shot； but if he does not speak he will be burned alive。〃
This was interpreted； but the threat had no apparent effect。 So Whitson
seized Ghamba and dragged him to the fire； where he flung him down on
the very edge of the glowing embers。
〃Now；〃 said Whitson； holding him down with his foot； so that he got
severely scorched； 〃for the last time； will you speak？〃
〃Take me away from the fire； and I will speak；〃 said Ghamba； in
English。
So they lifted him； and set him again with his back to the rock。
〃Now；〃 said Whitson； 〃go ahead； and no nonsense！〃
〃If I tell the whole truth；〃 said Ghamba； still speaking English； and
with a fair accent； 〃will you swear not to burn me； but to shoot me； so that
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I shall die at once？〃
〃I will；〃 said Whitson。
〃You too must swear；〃 said Ghamba； looking at Langley。
〃Yes； I swear。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Ghamba； 〃I will tell you everything； but you must
both remember what you have sworn to。〃
〃Yes； all right；〃 said Whitson。 Ghamba then looked at Langley； who
repeated the words。
〃I will tell you；〃 said Ghamba； 〃all I can remember； and you can ask
questions； which I shall answer truly。 You have heard of Umdava； who
used to eat men in Natal long ago； after the wars of Tshakawell； he was
my uncle。 After Umdava had been killed and his people scattered； my
father； with a few followers； came to live among these mountains。 But we
found that after having eaten human flesh we could enjoy no other food；
so we caught people and ate them。 These two men lying dead are my sons；
and that woman is my daughter。 My four wives were here to…night。 They
are very old women。 Have you not seen them？〃 he asked； looking at
Whitson。
〃They are in there； I shot them；〃 said Whitson； pointing to the cave。
〃I had other children；〃 continued Ghamba； quite unmoved； 〃but we ate
them when food was scarce。〃
〃Have you always lived； all these years； on human flesh？〃 asked
Whitson。
〃No； not always； but whenever we could obtain it we did so。 There is
other food in these mountainshoney； ants' eggs； roots； and fruit； besides
game； which is； however； not very easy to catch。 But we have often all had
to go away and work when times have been bad。 Besides； I have a herd of
cattle at a Basuto kraal； and I have been in the habit of taking some of
these now and then； and exchanging them for corn； which the women then
went to fetch。 But we have always tried to get people to eat； because we
could enjoy no other kind of food。 Sometimes we got them easily； and
when we were very fortunate we used to dry part of the meat by hanging it
up and lighting a fire underneath； with green wood； so as to make plenty
of smoke。〃
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〃Have you killed many white people？〃 asked Whitson。
〃Yes； a good numb
