stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第5节
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the scrub； too； came little spirals of vapour； as though there were hundreds
of tiny fires alight in itreek rising from thousands of tons of rotting
vegetation。 It was a beautiful place； but the beauty was the beauty of death；
and all those lines and blots of vapour wrote one great word across the
surface of the country； and that word was 'fever。'
〃It was a dreadful year of illness that。 I came； I remember； to one little
kraal of knobnoses； and went up to it to see if I could get some /maas/
（curdled butter…milk） and a few mealies。 As I got near I was struck with
the silence of the place。 No children began to chatter； and no dogs barked。
Nor could I see any native sheep or cattle。 The place； though it had
evidently been recently inhabited； was as still as the bush round it； and
some guinea…fowl got up out of the prickly pear bushes right at the kraal
gate。 I remember that I hesitated a little before going in； there was such an
air of desolation about the spot。 Nature never looks desolate when man has
not yet laid his hand upon her breast； she is only lovely。 But when man has
been； and has passed away； then she looks desolate。
〃Well； I passed into the kraal； and went up to the principal hut。 In front
of the hut was something with an old sheepskin /kaross/ （rug） thrown over
it。 I stooped down and drew off the rug； and then shrank back amazed； for
under it was the body of a young woman recently dead。 For a moment I
thought of turning back； but my curiosity overcame me； so going past the
dead woman； I went down on my hands and knees and crept into the hut。
It was so dark that I could not see anything； though I could smell a great
deal； so I lit a match。 It was a 'tandstickor' match； and burnt slowly and
dimly； and as the light gradually increased I made out what I took to be a
family of people； men； women； and children； fast asleep。 Presently it burnt
up brightly； and I saw that they too； five of them altogether； were quite
dead。 One was a baby。 I dropped the match in a hurry； and was making my
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way out of the hut as hard as I could go； when I caught sight of two bright
eyes staring out of a corner。 Thinking it was a wild cat； or some such
animal； I redoubled my haste； when suddenly a voice near the eyes began
first to mutter； and then to send up a succession of awful yells。 Hastily I lit
another match； and perceived that the eyes belonged to an old woman；
wrapped up in a greasy leather garment。 Taking her by the arm； I dragged
her out； for she could not； or would not； come by herself； and the stench
was overpowering me。 Such a sight as she wasa bag of bones； covered
over with black； shrivelled parchment。 The only white thing about her was
her wool； and she seemed to be pretty well dead except for her eyes and
her voice。 She thought that I was a devil come to take her； and that is why
she yelled so。 Well； I got her down to the waggon； and gave her a 'tot' of
Cape smoke； and then； as soon as it was ready； poured about a pint of
beef… tea down her throat； made from the flesh of a blue vilder…beeste I had
killed the day before； and after that she brightened up wonderfully。 She
could talk Zulu；indeed； it turned out that she had run away from
Zululand in T'Chaka's time；and she told me that all the people whom I
had seen had died of fever。 When they had died the other inhabitants of the
kraal had taken the cattle and gone away； leaving the poor old woman；
who was helpless from age and infirmity； to perish of starvation or disease；
as the case might be。 She had been sitting there for three days among the
bodies when I found her。 I took her on to the next kraal； and gave the
headman a blanket to look after her； promising him another if I found her
well when I came back。 I remember that he was much astonished at my
parting with two blankets for the sake of such a worthless old creature。
'Why did I not leave her in the bush？' he asked。 Those people carry the
doctrine of the survival of the fittest to its extreme； you see。
〃It was the night after I had got rid of the old woman that I made my
first acquaintance with my friend yonder；〃 and he nodded toward the skull
that seemed to be grinning down at us in the shadow of the wide mantel…
shelf。 〃I had trekked from dawn till eleven o'clock；a long trek；but I
wanted to get on； and then had turned the oxen out to graze； sending the
voorlooper to look after them； meaning to inspan again about six o'clock；
and trek with the moon till ten。 Then I got into the waggon and had a good
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sleep till half…past two or so in the afternoon； when I rose and cooked
some meat； and had my dinner； washing it down with a pannikin of black
coffee； for it was difficult to get preserved milk in those days。 Just as I had
finished； and the driver； a man called Tom； was washing up the things； in
comes the young scoundrel of a voorlooper driving one ox before him。
〃'Where are the other oxen？' I asked。
〃'Koos！' he said； 'Koos！ （chief） the other oxen have gone away。 I
turned my back for a minute； and when I looked round again they were all
gone except Kaptein； here； who was rubbing his back against a tree。'
〃'You mean that you have been asleep； and let them stray； you villain。 I
will rub your back against a stick；' I answered； feeling very angry； for it
was not a pleasant prospect to be stuck up in that fever…trap for a week or
so while we were hunting for the oxen。 'Off you go； and you too； Tom； and
mind you don't come back till you have found them。 They have trekked
back along the Middelburg Road； and are a dozen miles off by now； I'll be
bound。 Now； no words； go； both of you。'
〃Tom； the driver； swore and caught the lad a hearty kick； which he
richly deserved； and then； having tied old Kaptein up to the disselboom
with a riem； they took their assegais and sticks； and started。 I would have
gone too； only I knew that somebody must look after the waggon； and I
did not like to leave either of the boys with it at night。 I was in a very bad
temper； indeed； although I was pretty well used to these sort of
occurrences； and soothed myself by taking a rifle and going to kill
something。 For a couple of hours I poked about without seeing anything
that I could get a shot at； but at last； just as I was again within seventy
yards of the waggon； I put up an old Impala ram from behind a mimosa…
thorn。 He ran straight for the waggon； and it was not till he was passing
within a few feet of it that I could get a decent shot at him。 Then I pulled；
and caught him half…way down the spine； over he went； dead as a door…
nail； and a pretty shot it was； though I ought not to say it。 This little
incident put me into rather a better temper； especially as the buck had
rolled right against the after part of the waggon； so I had only to gut him；
fix a riem round his legs； and haul him up。 By the time I had done this the
sun was down； and the full moon was up； and a beautiful moon it was。
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And then there came that wonderful hush which sometimes falls over the
African bush in the early hours of the night。 No beast was moving； and no
bird called。 Not a breath of air stirred the quiet trees； and the shadows did
not even quiver； they only grew。 It was very oppressive and very lonely；
for there was not a sign of the cattle or the boys。 I was quite thankful for
the society of old Kaptein； who was lying down contentedly against the
disselboom； chewing the cud with a good conscience。
〃Presently； however； Kaptein began to get restless。 First he snorted；
then he got up and snorted again。 I could not make it out； so like a fool I
got down off the waggon…box to have a look round； thinking it might be
the lost oxen coming。
〃Next instant I regretted it； for all of a sudden I heard a roar and saw
something yellow flash past me and light on poor Kaptein。 Then c
