the land of footprints-第14节
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d not usurp the sound world； but constituted itself an underlying basis； so to speak。 And when it stopped the silence seemed to rush in as into a vacuum！
We had likewise the aeroplane beetle。 He was so big that he would have made good wing…shooting。 His manner of flight was the straight…ahead； heap…of…buzz； plenty…busy； don't…stop…a…minute…or…you'll…come…down method of the aeroplane； and he made the same sort of a hum。 His first…cousin； mechanically； was what we called the wind…up…the…watch insect。 This specimen possessed a watch…an old…fashioned Waterbury； evidently…that he was continually winding。 It must have been hard work for the poor chap； for it sounded like a very big watch。
All these things were amusing。 So were the birds。 The African bird is quite inclined to be didactic。 He believes you need advice； and he means to give it。 To this end he repeats the same thing over and over until he thinks you surely cannot misunderstand。 One chap especially whom we called the lawyer bird； and who lived in the treetops； had four phrases to impart。 He said them very deliberately； with due pause between each； then he repeated them rapidly； finally he said them all over again with an exasperated bearing…down emphasis。 The joke of it is I cannot now remember just how they went！ Another feathered pedagogue was continually warning us to go slow； very good advice near an African jungle。 〃Poley…poley！ Poley…poley！〃 he warned again and again； which is good Swahili for 〃slowly！ slowly！〃 We always minded him。 There were many others； equally impressed with their own wisdom； but the one I remember with most amusement was a dilatory person who apparently never got around to his job until near sunset。 Evidently he had contracted to deliver just so many warnings per diem； and invariably he got so busy chasing insects； enjoying the sun； gossiping with a friend and generally footling about that the late afternoon caught him unawares with never a chirp accomplished。 So he sat in a bush and said his say over and over just as fast as he could without pause for breath or recreation。 It was really quite a feat。 Just at dusk； after two hours of gabbling； he would reach the end of his contracted number。 With final relieved chirp he ended。
It has been said that African birds are 〃songless。〃 This is a careless statement that can easily be read to mean that African birds are silent。 The writer evidently must have had in mind as a criterion some of our own or the English great feathered soloists。 Certainly the African jungle seems to produce no individual performers as sustained as our own bob…o…link； our hermit thrush； or even our common robin。 But the African birds are vocal enough； for all that。 Some of them have a richness and depth of timbre perhaps unequalled elsewhere。 Of such is the chime…bird with his deep double note； or the bell…bird tolling like a cathedral in the blackness of the forest； or the bottle bird that apparently pours gurgling liquid gold from a silver jug。 As the jungle is exceedingly populous of these feathered specialists； it follows that the early morning chorus is wonderful。 Africa may not possess the soloists； but its full orchestrial effects are superb。
Naturally under the equator one expects and demands the 〃gorgeous tropical plumage〃 of the books。 He is not disappointed。 The sun…birds of fifty odd species； the brilliant blue starlings； the various parrots； the variegated hornbills； the widower…birds； and dozens of others whose names would mean nothing flash here and there in the shadow and in the open。 With them are hundreds of quiet little bodies just as interesting to one who likes birds。 》From the trees and bushes hang pear…shaped nests plaited beautifully of long grasses； hard and smooth as hand…made baskets； the work of the various sorts of weaver…birds。 In the tops of the trees roosted tall marabout storks like dissipated； hairless old club…men in well…groomed； correct evening dress。
And around camp gathered the swift brown kites。 They were robbers and villains； but we could not hate them。 All day long they sailed back and forth spying sharply。 When they thought they saw their chance； they stooped with incredible swiftness to seize a piece of meat。 Sometimes they would snatch their prize almost from the hands of its rightful owner； and would swoop triumphantly upward again pursued by polyglot maledictions and a throwing stick。 They were very skilful on their wings。 I have many times seen them； while flying； tear up and devour large chunks of meat。 It seems to my inexperience as an aviator rather a nice feat to keep your balance while tearing with your beak at meat held in your talons。 Regardless of other landmarks； we always knew when we were nearing camp； after one of our strolls； by the gracefully wheeling figures of our kites。
IX。 THE FIRST LION
One day we all set out to make our discoveries： F。； B。； and I with our gunbearers； Memba Sasa； Mavrouki； and Simba； and ten porters to bring in the trophies； which we wanted very much； and the meat； which the men wanted still more。 We rode our horses； and the syces followed。 This made quite a field force…nineteen men all told。 Nineteen white men would be exceedingly unlikely to get within a liberal half mile of anything； but the native has sneaky ways。
At first we followed between the river and the low hills； but when the latter drew back to leave open a broad flat； we followed their line。 At this point they rose to a clifflike headland a hundred and fifty feet high； flat on top。 We decided to investigate that mesa； both for the possibilities of game； and for the chance of a view abroad。
The footing was exceedingly noisy and treacherous； for it was composed of flat； tinkling little stones。 Dried…up； skimpy bushes just higher than our heads made a thin but regular cover。 There seemed not to be a spear of anything edible； yet we caught the flash of red as a herd of impalla melted away at our rather noisy approach。 Near the foot of the hill we dismounted； with orders to all the men but the gunbearers to sit down and make themselves comfortable。 Should we need them we could easily either signal or send word。 Then we set ourselves toilsomely to clamber up that volcanic hill。
It was not particularly easy going； especially as we were trying to walk quietly。 You see； we were about to surmount a skyline。 Surmounting a skyline is always most exciting anywhere； for what lies beyond is at once revealed as a whole and contains the very essence of the unknown； but most decidedly is this true in Africa。 That mesa looked flat； and almost anything might be grazing or browsing there。 So we proceeded gingerly； with due regard to the rolling of the loose rocks or the tinkling of the little pebbles。
But long before we had reached that alluring skyline we were halted by the gentle snapping of Mavrouki's fingers。 That； strangely enough； is a sound to which wild animals seem to pay no attention； and is therefore most useful as a signal。 We looked back。 The three gunbearers were staring to the right of our course。 About a hundred yards away； on the steep side hill； and partly concealed by the brush； stood two rhinoceroses。
They were side by side； apparently dozing。 We squatted on our heels for a consultation。
The obvious thing； as the wind was from them； was to sneak quietly by； saying nuffin' to nobody。 But although we wanted no more rhino； we very much wanted rhino pictures。 A discussion developed no really good reason why we should not kodak these especial rhinos…except that there were two of them。 So we began to worm our way quietly through the bushes in their direction。
F。 and B。 deployed on the flanks； their double…barrelled rifles ready for instant action。 I occupied the middle with that dangerous weapon the 3A kodak。 Memba Sasa followed at my elbow； holding my big gun。
Now the trouble with modern photography is that it is altogether too lavish in its depiction of distances。 If you do not believe it； take a picture of a horse at as short a range as twenty…five yards。 That equine will； in the development； have receded to a respectable middle distance。 Therefore it had been agreed that the advance of the battle line was to cease only when those rhinoceroses loomed up reasonably large in the finder。 I kept looking into the finder； you may be sure。 Nearer and nearer we crept。 The great beasts were evidently basking in the sun。 Their little pig eyes alone gave any sign of life。 Otherwise they exhibited the complete immobility of something done in granite。 Probably no other beast impresses one with quite this quality。 I suppose it is because even the little motions peculiar to other animals are with the rhinoceros entirely lacking。 He is not in the least of a nervous disposition； so he does not stamp his feet nor change his position。 It is useless for him to wag his tail； for； in the first place； the tail is absurdly inadequate； and； in the second place； flies are not among his troubles。 Flies wouldn't bother you either； if you had a skin two inches thick。 So there they stood； inert and solid as two huge brown rocks； save for the deep； wicked twinkle of their little eyes。
Yes； we were close enough to 〃see the whites of their eyes；〃 if they had had any： and also t
