stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第9节
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African trader。 His face bore testimony to the winds and weather it had
encountered； and wore habitually a grave； if not melancholy； expression。
He was rough but kind to me； and though strict was just； which was no
common feature in an old African hand to one who had just arrived on the
coast。
He kept the factorywe called all houses on the coast factoriesas
neat and clean as if it had been a ship。 He had the floor of the portion we
dwelt in holystoned every week； and numberless little racks and shelves
were fitted up all over the house。 The outside walls glittered with paint；
and the yard was swept clean every morning； and every Sunday； at eight
o'clock and sunset； the ensign was hoisted and lowered； and an old cannon
fired at the word of command。 Order and rule were with Jackson observed
from habit； and were strictly enforced by him on all the natives employed
in the factory。
Although I have said the country looked as if uninhabited； there were
numerous villages hidden away in the long grass and brushwood； invisible
at a distance； being huts of thatch or mud； and not so high as the grass
among which they were placed。 From these villages came most of our
servants； and also the middlemen； who acted as brokers between us； the
white men； and the negroes who brought ivory and gum and india…rubber
from the far interior for sale。 Our trade was principally in ivory； and when
an unusually large number of elephants' tusks arrived upon the Point for
sale； it would be crowded with Bushmen； strange and uncouth； and
hideously ugly； and armed； and then we would be very busy； for
sometimes as many as two hundred tusks would be brought to us at the
same time； and each of these had to be bargained for and paid for by
exchange of cotton cloths； guns； knives； powder； and a host of small
wares。
For some time after my arrival our factory； along with the others on
the coast belonging to Messrs。 Flint Brothers； was very well supplied by
them with goods for the trade； but by degrees their shipments became less
frequent； and small when they did come。 In spite of repeated letters we
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could gain no reason from the firm for this fact； nor could the other
factories； and gradually we found ourselves with an empty storehouse； and
nearly all our goods gone。 Then followed a weary interval； during which
we had nothing whatever to do； and day succeeded day through the long
hot season。 It was now that I began to feel that Jackson had become of late
more silent and reserved with me than ever he had been。 I noticed； too；
that he had contracted a habit of wandering out to the extreme end of the
Point； where he would sit for hours gazing upon the ocean before him。 In
addition to this； he grew morose and uncertain in his temper toward the
natives； and sometimes he would fall asleep in the evenings on a sofa； and
talk to himself at such a rate while asleep that I would grow frightened and
wake him； when he would stare about him for a little until he gathered
consciousness； and then he would stagger off to bed to fall asleep again
almost immediately。 Also； his hands trembled much； and he began to lose
flesh。 All this troubled me； for his own sake as well as my own； and I
resolved to ask him to see the doctor of the next mail… steamer that came。
With this idea I went one day to the end of the Point； and found him in his
usual attitude； seated on the long grass； looking seaward。 He did not hear
me approach； and when I spoke he started to his feet； and demanded
fiercely why I disturbed him。 I replied； as mildly as I could； for I was
rather afraid of the glittering look that was in his eyes； that I wished to ask
him if he did not feel ill。
He regarded me with a steady but softened glance for a little； and then
said：
〃My lad； I thank you for your trouble； but I want no doctor。 Do you
think I'm looking ill？〃
〃Indeed you are；〃 I answered； 〃ill and thin； and； do you know； I hear
you talk to yourself in your sleep nearly every night。〃
〃What do I say？〃 he asked eagerly。
〃That I cannot tell；〃 I replied。 〃It is all rambling talk； the same things
over and over again； and nearly all about one personLucy。〃
〃Boy！〃 he cried out； as if in pain； or as if something had touched him
to the quick； 〃sit you down； and I'll tell you why I think of hershe was
my wife。〃
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He moved nearer to the edge of the cliff； and we sat down； almost over
the restless sea beneath us。
〃She lives in my memory；〃 he continued； speaking more to himself
than to me； and looking far out to the horizon； beneath which the setting
sun had begun to sink； 〃in spite of all I can do or think of to make her
appear base in my eyes。 For she left me to go with another mana
scoundrel。 This was how it was；〃 he added； quickly： 〃I married her； and
thought her as pure as a flower； but I could not take her to sea with me
because I was only the mate of a vessel； so I left her among her own
friends； in the village where she was born。 In a little cottage by herself I
settled her； comfortable and happy as I thought。 God！ how she hung round
my neck and sobbed when I went away the first time！ and yetyetwithin
a year she left me。〃 And he stopped for several minutes； resting his head
upon his hands。 〃At first I could get no trace of her；〃 he resumed。 〃Her
friends knew nothing more of her than that she had left the village
suddenly。 Gradually I found out the name of the scoundrel who had
seduced her away。 He had bribed her friends so that they were silent； but I
overbribed them with the last money I had； and I followed him and my
wife on foot。 I never found them； nor did I ever know why she had
deserted me for him。 If I had only known the reason； if I could have been
told of my fault； if she had only written to say that she was tired of me；
that I was too old； too rough for her soft ways；I think I could have borne
the heavy stroke the villain had dealt me better。 The end of my search was
that I dropped down in the streets of Liverpool； whither I thought I had
tracked them； and was carried to the hospital with brain…fever upon me。
Two months afterward I came out cured； and the sense of my loss was
deadened within me； so that I could go to sea again； which I did； before
the mast； under the name of Jackson； in a bark that traded to this coast
here。〃 And the old sailor rose to his feet and turned abruptly away； leaving
me sitting alone。
I saw that he did not wish to be followed； so I stayed where I was and
watched the gray twilight creep over the face of the sea； and the night
quickly succeed to it。 Not a cloud had been in the sky all day long； and as
the darkness increased the stars came out； until the whole heavens were
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studded with glittering gems。
Suddenly； low down； close to the sea； a point of light flickered and
disappeared； shone again for a moment； wavered and went out； only to
reappear and shine steadily。 〃A steamer's masthead light；〃 I thought； and
ran to the house to give the news； but Jackson had already seen the light；
and pronounced that she had anchored until the morning。 At daybreak
there she was； dipping her sides to the swell of the sea as it rolled beneath
her。 It was my duty to go off to her in one of the surf…boats belonging to
the factory； and so I scrambled down the cliff to the little strip of smooth
beach that served us for a landing… place。
When I arrived there I found that the white…crested breakers were
heavier than I had thought they would be。 However； there was the boat
lying on the beach with its prow toward the waves； and round it were the
boat…boys with their loincloths girded； ready to sta
