the yellow god-第25节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


guns　from　the　coast　people；　but　living　as　they　did　in　the　interior
where　white　folk　did　not　dare　to　travel；　they　had　never　seen　their
terrible　effects。

〃Magic！〃　they　cried。　〃Magic！〃

〃Of　course；〃　exclaimed　Jeekie；　who　by　now　had　arrived　upon　the　scene。
〃What　else　did　you　expect　from　the　husband　of　Little　Bonsa？　Magic；　the
greatest　of　magic。　Go；　roll　that　beast　away　before　your　chief　is
crushed　to　death。〃

They　obeyed；　and　the　man　sat　up；　a　fearful　spectacle；　for　he　was
smothered　with　the　blood　of　the　lion　and　somewhat　cut　by　her　claws；
though　otherwise　unhurt。　Then　feeling　that　the　life　was　still　whole　in
him；　he　crept　on　his　hands　and　knees　to　where　Alan　stood；　and　kissed
his　feet。

〃Aha！〃　said　Jeekie；　〃Little　Bonsa　score　again。　Cannibal　tribe　our
slave　henceforth　for　evermore。　Yes；　till　kingdom　come。　Come　on；　Major；
and　cook　supper　in　perfect　peace。〃

The　supper　was　cooked　and　eaten　with　gratitude；　for　seldom　had　two　men
needed　a　square　meal　more；　and　never　did　venison　taste　better。　By　the
time　that　it　was　finished　darkness　had　fallen；　and　before　they　turned
in　to　sleep　in　the　neat　reed　hut　that　the　Ogula　had　built；　Alan　and
Jeekie　walked　up　the　island　to　see　if　the　lioness　had　been　skinned；　as
they　directed。　This　they　found　was　done；　even　the　carcase　itself　had
been　removed　to　serve　as　meat　for　these　foul…feeding　people。　They
climbed　on　to　the　pile　of　rocks　in　which　the　beast　had　made　her　lair；
and　looked　down　the　river　to　where；　two　hundred　yards　away；　the　Ogula
were　encamped。　From　this　camp　there　rose　a　sound　of　revelry；　and　by
the　light　of　the　great　fires　that　burned　there；　they　perceived　that
the　hungry　savages　were　busy　feasting；　for　some　of　them　sat　in
circles；　whilst　others；　their　naked　forms　looking　at　that　distance
like　those　of　imps　in　the　infernal　regions；　flitted　to　and　fro　against
the　glowing　background　of　the　fires；　bearing　strange…looking　joints　on
prongs　of　wood。

〃I　suppose　they　are　eating　the　lioness；〃　said　Alan　doubtfully。

〃No；　no；　Major；　not　lioness；　eat　dwarf　by　dozenjust　like　oysters　at
seaside。　But　for　Little　Bonsa　/we/　sit　on　those　forks　now　and　look
uncommon　small。〃

〃Beasts！〃　said　Alan　in　disgust；　〃they　make　me　feel　uncommon　sick。　Let
us　go　to　bed。　I　suppose　they　won't　murder　us　in　our　sleep；　will　they？〃

〃Not　they；　Major；　too　much　afraid。　Also　we　their　blood…brothers　now；
because　we　bring　them　first…class　dinner　and　save　chief　from　lion's
fury。　No　blame　them　too　much；　Major；　good　fellows　really　with　gentle
heart；　but　grub　like　that　from　generation　to　generation。　Every
mother's　son　of　them　have　many　men　inside；　that　why　they　so　big　and
strong。　Ogula　people　cover　great　multitude　like　Charity　in　Book。　No
doubt　sent　by　Providence　to　keep　down　extra　pop'lation。　Not　right　to
think　too　hard　of　poor　fellows　who；　as　I　say；　very　kind　and　gentle　at
heart　and　most　loving　in　family　relation；　except　to　old　women　whom
they　eat　also；　so　that　they　no　get　bored　with　too　long　life。〃

Weary　and　disgusted　by　this　abominable　sight　though　he　was；　Alan　burst
out　laughing　at　his　retainer's　apology　for　the　sweet…natured　Ogula；
who　struck　him　as　the　most　repulsive　blackguards　that　he　had　ever　met
or　heard　of　in　all　his　experience　of　African　savages。　Then　wishing　to
see　and　hear　no　more　of　them　that　night；　he　retreated　rapidly　to　the
hut　and　was　soon　fast　asleep　with　his　head　pillowed　on　the　box　that
hid　the　charms　of　Little　Bonsa。　When　he　awoke　it　was　broad　daylight。
Rising　he　went　down　to　the　river　to　wash；　and　never　had　a　bath　been
more　welcome；　for　during　all　their　journey　through　the　forest　no　such
thing　was　obtainable。　On　his　return　he　found　his　garments　well　brushed
with　dry　reeds　and　set　upon　a　rock　in　the　hot　sun　to　air；　while　Jeekie
in　a　cheerful　mood；　was　engaged　cooking　breakfast　in　the　frying…pan；
to　which　he　had　clung　through　all　the　vicissitudes　of　their　flight。

〃No　coffee；　Major；〃　he　said　regretfully；　〃that　stop　in　forest。　But
never　mind；　hot　water　better　for　nerve。　Ogula　messengers　gone　in
little　canoe　to　Asiki　at　break　of　day。　Travel　slow　till　they　work　off
dwarf；　but　afterwards　go　quick。　I　send　lion　skin　with　them　as　present
from　you　to　great　high…priestess　Asika；　also　claws　for　necklace。　No
lions　there　and　she　think　much　of　that。　Also　it　make　her　love　mighty
man　who　can　kill　fierce　lion　like　Samson　in　Book。　Love　of　head　woman
very　valuable　ally　among　beastly　savage　peoples。〃

〃I　am　sure　I　hope　it　won't；〃　said　Alan　with　earnestness；　〃but　no　doubt
it　is　as　well　to　keep　on　the　soft　side　of　the　good　lady　if　we　can。
What　time　do　we　start？〃

〃In　one　hour；　Major。　I　been　to　camp　already；　chosen　best　canoe　and
finest　men　for　rowers。　Chiefhe　called　Fannyso　grateful　that　he
come　with　them　himself。〃

〃Indeed。　That　is　very　kind　of　him；　but　I　say；　Jeekie；　what　are　these
fellows　going　to　live　on？　I　can't　stand　what　you　call　their　'favourite
chop。'〃

〃No；　no；　Major；　that　all　right。　I　tell　them　that　when　they　travel　with
Little　Bonsa；　they　must　keep　Lent　like　pious　Roman　Catholic　family
that　live　near　Yarleys。　They　catch　plenty　fish　in　river；　and　perhaps
we　shoot　game；　or　rich　'potamus；　which　they　like　'cause　he　fat。〃

Evidently　the　Ogula　chief；　Fahni　by　name；　not　Fanny；　as　Jeekie　called
him；　was　a　man　of　his　word；　for　before　the　hour　was　up　he　appeared　at
the　island　in　command　of　a　large　canoe　manned　by　twelve　splendid…
looking　savages。　Springing　to　land；　he　prostrated　himself　before　Alan；
kissing　his　feet　as　he　had　done　on　the　previous　night；　and　making　a
long　speech。

〃That　very　good　spirit；〃　exclaimed　Jeekie。　〃Like　to　see　heathen　in　his
darkness　lick　white　gentleman's　boot。　He　say　you　his　lord　and　great
magician　who　save　his　life；　and　know　all　Little　Bonsa's　secrets；　which
many　and　unrepeatable。　He　say　he　die　for　you　twice　a　day　if　need　be；
and　go　on　dying　to…morrow　and　all　next　year。　He　say　he　take　you　safe
till　you　meet　Asiki　and　for　your　sake；　though　he　hungry；　eat　no　man
for　one　whole　month；　or　perhaps　longer。　Now　we　start　at　once。〃

So　they　started　up　the　river　that　was　called　Katsena；　Alan　and　Jeekie
seated　in　a　lordly　fashion　near　the　stern　of　the　canoe　beneath　an
awning　made　out　of　some　sticks　and　a　grass　mat。　In　truth　after　their
severe　toil　and　adventures　in　the　forest；　this　method　of　journeying
proved　quite　luxurious。　Except　for　a　rapid　here　and　there　over　or
round　which　the　canoe　must　be　dragged；　the　river　was　broad　and　the
scenery　on　its　banks　park…like　and　beautiful。　Moreover　the　country；
perhaps　owing　to　the　appetites　of　the　Ogula；　appeared　to　be
practically　uninhabited　except　by　vast　herds　of　every　sort　of　game。

All　day　they　sat　in　the　canoe　which　the　stalwart　rowers　propelled；　in
silence　for　the　most　part；　since　they　were　terribly　afraid　of　the
white　man；　and　still　more　so　of　the　renowned　fetish　which　they　knew　he
carried　with　him。　Then　when　evening　came　they　moored　their　craft　to
the　bank　and　camped　till　the　following　morning。　Nor　did　they　lack　for
food；　since　game　being　so　plentiful；　it　was　only　necessary　for　Alan　to
walk　a　few　hundred　yards　and　shoot　a　fat　eland；　or　hartebeest；　or
other　buck　which　in　its　ignorance　of　guns　would　allow　him　to　approach
quite　close。　Elephants；　rhinoceros；　and　buffalo　were　also　common；
while　great　herds　of　giraffe　might　be　seen　wandering　between　the
scattered　trees；　but　as　they　were　not　upon　a　hunting　trip　and　their
ammunition　was　very　limited；　with　these　they　did　not　interfere。

Having　their　daily　fill　of　meat　which　their　souls　loved；　the　Ogula
oarsmen　remained　in　an　excellent　mood；　indeed　the　chief；　Fahni；
informed　Alan　that　if　only　they　had　such　magic　tubes　wherewith　to
slaughter　game；　he　and　his　tribe　would　gladly　give　up　cannibalism
except　on　feast　days。　He　added　sadly　that　soon　they　would　be　obliged
to　do　so；　or　die；　since　in　those　parts　there　were　now　few　people　left
to　eat；　and　they　hated　vegetables。　Moreover；　they　kept　no　cattle；　it
was　not　the　custom　of　that　tribe；　except　a　very　few　for　milk。　Alan
advised　them　to　increase　their　herds；　since；　as　he　pointed　out　to
them；　〃dog　should　not　eat　dog〃　or　the　human　being　his　own　kind。

The　chief　answered　that　there　was　a　great　deal　in　what　he　said；　which
on　his　return　he　would　lay　before　his　head　men。　Indeed　Alan；　to　his
astonishment；　discovered　that　Jeekie　had　been　quite　right　when　he
alleged　that　these　people；　so　terrible　in　their　mode　of　life；　were　yet
〃kind　and　gentle　at　heart。〃　They　preyed　upon　mankind　because　for
centuries　it　had　been　their　custom　so　to　do；　but　if　anyone　had　been
there　to　show　them　a　better　way；　he　grew　sure　that　they　would　follow
it　gladly。　At　least　they　were　brave　and　loyal　and　even　after　their
first　fear　of　the　white　man　had　worn　off；　fulfilled　their　promises
without　a　murmur。　Once；　indeed；　when　he　chanced　to　have　gone　for　a
walk　unarmed　and　to　be　charged　by　a　bull　elephant；　these　Ogula　ran　at
the　brute　with　their　spears　and　drove　it　away；　a　rescue　in　which　one
of　them　lost　his　life；　for　the　〃rogue〃　caught　and　killed　him。

So　the　days　went　on　while　they　paddled　leisurely　up　the　river；　Alan
employing　the　time　by　taking　lessons　in　the　Asiki　tongue　from　Jeekie；
a　language　which　he　had　been　studying　ever　since　he　left　England。　The
task　was　not　e