prester john-µÚ20½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
The¡¡key¡¡was¡¡turned£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lantern¡¡was¡¡thrown¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡flew¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡as¡¡its¡¡bearer¡¡cast¡¡the¡¡light¡¡into¡¡the¡¡corners¡£
'By¡¡God£»¡¡he's¡¡gone£»'¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡Henriques¡¡say¡£¡¡¡¡'The¡¡swine¡¡was¡¡listening£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡has¡¡bolted¡¡now¡£'
'He¡¡won't¡¡bolt¡¡far£»'¡¡Laputa¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡'He¡¡is¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡snoring¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡counter¡£'
These¡¡were¡¡anxious¡¡moments¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡firm¡¡grip¡¡on¡¡Colin's¡¡throat£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡a¡¡growl¡¡escaped£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡fortunately¡¡blended¡¡with¡¡my¡¡snores¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡a¡¡lantern¡¡was¡¡flashed¡¡on¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡were¡¡peering¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡heap¡¡on¡¡the¡¡half¡opened¡¡trap¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡minute¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡spent£»¡¡for£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡said£»¡¡my¡¡courage¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡bad¡¡in¡¡action£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡a¡¡passive¡¡game¡¡it¡¡oozed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡my¡¡fingers¡£
'He¡¡is¡¡safe¡¡enough£»'¡¡Laputa¡¡said£»¡¡after¡¡what¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡an¡¡eternity¡£¡¡¡¡'The¡¡noise¡¡was¡¡only¡¡the¡¡rats¡¡among¡¡the¡¡barrels¡£'¡¡I¡¡thanked¡¡my¡¡Maker¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡noticed¡¡the¡¡other¡¡trap¡door¡£¡¡'All¡¡the¡¡same¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I'll¡¡make¡¡him¡¡safer£»'¡¡said¡¡Henriques¡£
Laputa¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡caught¡¡him¡¡by¡¡the¡¡arm¡£
'Come¡¡back¡¡and¡¡get¡¡to¡¡business£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡'I've¡¡told¡¡you¡¡I'll¡¡have¡¡no¡¡more¡¡murder¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡do¡¡as¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡Mr¡¡Henriques¡£'
I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡catch¡¡the¡¡answer£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡two¡¡went¡¡out¡¡and¡¡locked¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡patted¡¡the¡¡outraged¡¡Colin£»¡¡and¡¡got¡¡to¡¡my¡¡feet¡¡with¡¡an¡¡aching¡¡side¡¡where¡¡the¡¡confounded¡¡lid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trap¡¡had¡¡been¡¡pressing¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡for¡¡the¡¡two¡¡in¡¡the¡¡outhouse¡¡would¡¡soon¡¡be¡¡setting¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡must¡¡be¡¡before¡¡them¡£
With¡¡no¡¡better¡¡light¡¡than¡¡a¡¡ray¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡through¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡I¡¡wrote¡¡a¡¡message¡¡on¡¡a¡¡leaf¡¡from¡¡my¡¡pocket¡book¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡told¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plans¡¡I¡¡had¡¡overheard£»¡¡and¡¡especially¡¡I¡¡mentioned¡¡Dupree's¡¡Drift¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Letaba¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡added¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Rooirand¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cave£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡one¡¡final¡¡sentence¡¡implored¡¡Arcoll¡¡to¡¡do¡¡justice¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Portugoose¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡was¡¡all£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡carefully¡¡tied¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡with¡¡a¡¡string¡¡below¡¡the¡¡collar¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dog¡£
Then¡¡very¡¡quietly¡¡I¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bedroom¡¡next¡¡door¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡store¡¡farthest¡¡from¡¡the¡¡outhouse¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡place¡¡was¡¡flooded¡¡with¡¡moonlight£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡window¡¡stood¡¡open£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡left¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡softly¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡I¡¡swung¡¡Colin¡¡over¡¡the¡¡sill¡¡and¡¡clambered¡¡after¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡my¡¡haste¡¡I¡¡left¡¡my¡¡coat¡¡behind¡¡me¡¡with¡¡my¡¡pistol¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pocket¡£
Now¡¡came¡¡a¡¡check¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡stabled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shed£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡was¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outhouse¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡leading¡¡him¡¡out¡¡would¡¡most¡¡certainly¡¡bring¡¡Laputa¡¡and¡¡Henriques¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡In¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡all¡¡but¡¡changed¡¡my¡¡plans¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡slipping¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outhouse¡¡and¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡shoot¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡as¡¡they¡¡came¡¡forth¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡reflected¡¡that£»¡¡before¡¡I¡¡could¡¡get¡¡them¡¡both£»¡¡one¡¡or¡¡other¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡shoot¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡queer¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡compunction¡¡about¡¡killing¡¡Laputa¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡understood¡¡now¡¡why¡¡Arcoll¡¡had¡¡stayed¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡from¡¡murder£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡be¡¡of¡¡his¡¡opinion¡¡on¡¡our¡¡arch¡enemy¡£
Then¡¡I¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡tied¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bush¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡them¡¡I¡¡could¡¡get¡¡with¡¡perfect¡¡safety¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡ran¡¡round¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡store¡¡and¡¡into¡¡the¡¡thicket£»¡¡keeping¡¡on¡¡soft¡¡grass¡¡to¡¡dull¡¡my¡¡tread¡£¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡tied¡¡up¡¡to¡¡a¡¡merula¡¡tree£»¡¡were¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡beasts¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡Africa¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡selected¡¡the¡¡better£»¡¡an¡¡Africander¡¡stallion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blaauw¡schimmel£»¡¡or¡¡blue¡roan¡¡type£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡famous¡¡for¡¡speed¡¡and¡¡endurance¡£¡¡¡¡Slipping¡¡his¡¡bridle¡¡from¡¡the¡¡branch£»¡¡I¡¡led¡¡him¡¡a¡¡little¡¡way¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bush¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Rooirand¡£
Then¡¡I¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡Colin¡£¡¡¡¡'Home¡¡with¡¡you£»'¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡'Home£»¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡you¡¡were¡¡running¡¡down¡¡a¡¡tsessebe¡£'*¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*A¡¡species¡¡of¡¡buck£»¡¡famous¡¡for¡¡its¡¡speed¡£
The¡¡dog¡¡seemed¡¡puzzled¡£¡¡¡¡'Home£»'¡¡I¡¡said¡¡again£»¡¡pointing¡¡west¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Berg¡£¡¡¡¡'Home£»¡¡you¡¡brute¡£'
And¡¡then¡¡he¡¡understood¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡one¡¡low¡¡whine£»¡¡and¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡reproachful¡¡eye¡¡on¡¡me¡¡and¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡roan¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡turned£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡his¡¡head¡¡down¡¡set¡¡off¡¡with¡¡great¡¡lopes¡¡on¡¡the¡¡track¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road¡¡I¡¡had¡¡ridden¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡£
A¡¡second¡¡later¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡saddle£»¡¡riding¡¡hell¡for¡leather¡¡for¡¡the¡¡north¡£
CHAPTER¡¡X¡¡I¡¡GO¡¡TREASURE¡HUNTING
For¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡or¡¡so¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡bush£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡open¡¡and¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡through£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡turned¡¡into¡¡the¡¡path¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡moon¡¡was¡¡high£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡world¡¡was¡¡all¡¡a¡¡dim¡¡dark¡¡green£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡track¡¡a¡¡golden¡¡ivory¡¡band¡¡before¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡my¡¡watch¡¡before¡¡I¡¡started£»¡¡and¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡just¡¡after¡¡eight¡¡o'clock¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡great¡¡horse¡¡under¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡less¡¡than¡¡thirty¡¡miles¡¡to¡¡cover¡£¡¡Midnight¡¡should¡¡see¡¡me¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cave¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡password¡¡I¡¡would¡¡gain¡¡admittance£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡would¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡Laputa¡¡and¡¡Henriques¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡if¡¡my¡¡luck¡¡held£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡see¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡workings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mystery¡¡which¡¡had¡¡puzzled¡¡me¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡the¡¡Kirkcaple¡¡shore¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡doubt¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡roughly¡¡treated£»¡¡tied¡¡up¡¡prisoner£»¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡with¡¡the¡¡army¡¡when¡¡the¡¡march¡¡began¡£¡¡But¡¡till¡¡Inanda's¡¡Kraal¡¡my¡¡life¡¡was¡¡safe£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡that¡¡came¡¡the¡¡ford¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Letaba¡£¡¡¡¡Colin¡¡would¡¡carry¡¡my¡¡message¡¡to¡¡Arcoll£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Drift¡¡the¡¡tables¡¡would¡¡be¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡Laputa's¡¡men¡£
Looking¡¡back¡¡in¡¡cold¡¡blood£»¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡the¡¡craziest¡¡chain¡¡of¡¡accidents¡¡to¡¡count¡¡on¡¡for¡¡preservation¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡dozen¡¡possibilities¡¡might¡¡have¡¡shattered¡¡any¡¡link¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡password¡¡might¡¡be¡¡wrong£»¡¡or¡¡I¡¡might¡¡never¡¡get¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡might¡¡butcher¡¡me¡¡out¡¡of¡¡hand£»¡¡or¡¡Laputa¡¡might¡¡think¡¡my¡¡behaviour¡¡a¡¡sufficient¡¡warrant¡¡for¡¡the¡¡breach¡¡of¡¡the¡¡solemnest¡¡vow¡£¡¡¡¡Colin¡¡might¡¡never¡¡get¡¡to¡¡Blaauwildebeestefontein£»¡¡Laputa¡¡might¡¡change¡¡his¡¡route¡¡of¡¡march£»¡¡or¡¡Arcoll's¡¡men¡¡might¡¡fail¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡the¡¡Drift¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡day¡¡at¡¡Portincross¡¡I¡¡was¡¡so¡¡overcome¡¡by¡¡the¡¡recollection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡perils¡¡I¡¡had¡¡dared¡¡and¡¡God's¡¡goodness¡¡towards¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡built¡¡a¡¡new¡¡hall¡¡for¡¡the¡¡parish¡¡kirk¡¡as¡¡a¡¡token¡¡of¡¡gratitude¡£
Fortunately¡¡for¡¡mankind¡¡the¡¡brain¡¡in¡¡a¡¡life¡¡of¡¡action¡¡turns¡¡more¡¡to¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡than¡¡to¡¡conjuring¡¡up¡¡the¡¡chances¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡£¡¡¡¡Certainly¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡no¡¡discomfort¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡I¡¡swung¡¡along¡¡the¡¡moonlit¡¡path¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡£¡¡¡¡Truth¡¡to¡¡tell£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡happy¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡first¡¡honours¡¡in¡¡the¡¡game¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡more¡¡about¡¡Laputa¡¡than¡¡any¡¡man¡¡living¡¡save¡¡Henriques£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡my¡¡finger¡¡on¡¡the¡¡central¡¡pulse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rebellion¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡hid¡¡treasure¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡great¡¡necklace¡¡of¡¡rubies£»¡¡Henriques¡¡had¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡Nay£»¡¡there¡¡must¡¡be¡¡more£»¡¡I¡¡argued¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡cave¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Rooirand¡¡was¡¡the¡¡headquarters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rising£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡must¡¡be¡¡stored¡¡their¡¡funds¡¡¡¡¡diamonds£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡bartered¡¡for¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡every¡¡man¡¡has¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡his¡¡soul¡¡a¡¡passion¡¡for¡¡treasure¡hunting£»¡¡which¡¡will¡¡often¡¡drive¡¡a¡¡coward¡¡into¡¡prodigies¡¡of¡¡valour¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡lusted¡¡for¡¡that¡¡treasure¡¡of¡¡jewels¡¡and¡¡gold¡£¡¡¡¡Once¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡high¡minded£»¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡my¡¡country£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡that¡¡night¡¡ride¡¡I¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡what¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡was¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡enrich¡¡David¡¡Crawfurd¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡other¡¡purpose¡¡simmered¡¡in¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡devoured¡¡with¡¡wrath¡¡against¡¡Henriques¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strongest¡¡motive¡¡for¡¡my¡¡escapade£»¡¡for¡¡even¡¡before¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡Laputa¡¡tell¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vows¡¡and¡¡the¡¡purification£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡it¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡go¡¡at¡¡all¡¡costs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cave¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡peaceable¡¡man¡¡at¡¡most¡¡times£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡would¡¡rather¡¡have¡¡had¡¡the¡¡Portugoose's¡¡throat¡¡in¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡than¡¡the¡¡collar¡¡of¡¡Prester¡¡John¡£
But¡¡behind¡¡my¡¡thoughts¡¡was¡¡one¡¡master¡feeling£»¡¡that¡¡Providence¡¡had¡¡given¡¡me¡¡my¡¡chance¡¡and¡¡I¡¡must¡¡make¡¡the¡¡most¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡the¡¡Calvinism¡¡of¡¡my¡¡father's¡¡preaching¡¡had¡¡unconsciously¡¡taken¡¡grip¡¡of¡¡my¡¡soul¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fatalist¡¡in¡¡creed£»¡¡believing¡¡that¡¡what¡¡was¡¡willed¡¡would¡¡happen£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡man¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡puppet¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Maker¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡last¡¡months¡¡as¡¡a¡¡clear¡¡course¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡mapped¡¡out¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡for¡¡nothing¡¡had¡¡I¡¡been¡¡given¡¡a¡¡clue¡¡to¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡events¡¡which¡¡were¡¡coming¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡foreordained¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡go¡¡alone¡¡to¡¡Umvelos'£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡promptings¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡fallible¡¡heart¡¡I¡¡believed¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡workings¡¡of¡¡Omnipotence¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡is¡¡our¡¡moral¡¡arrogance£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡without¡¡such¡¡a¡¡belief¡¡I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡mankind¡¡would¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡content¡¡to¡¡bide¡¡sluggishly¡¡at¡¡home¡£
I¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡on¡¡my¡¡former¡¡journey¡¡I¡¡had¡¡met¡¡the¡¡horses£»¡¡and¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡covered¡¡more¡¡than¡¡half¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡My¡¡ear¡¡had¡¡been¡¡alert¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡pursuit£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡bush¡¡was¡¡quiet¡¡as¡¡the¡¡grave¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡man¡¡who¡¡rode¡¡my¡¡pony¡¡would¡¡find¡¡him¡¡a¡¡slow¡¡traveller£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡pitied¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡beast¡¡bucketed¡¡along¡¡by¡¡an¡¡angry¡¡rider¡£¡¡¡¡Gradually¡¡a¡¡hazy¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡purple¡¡began¡¡to¡¡shimmer¡¡before¡¡me£»¡¡apparently¡¡very¡¡far¡¡off¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡ramparts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Rooirand£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡my¡¡Schimmel¡¡feel¡¡my¡¡knees¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ribs¡£¡¡¡¡Within¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cliff's¡¡foot¡£
I¡¡had¡¡trusted¡¡for¡¡safety¡¡to¡¡the¡¡password£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡it¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡I¡¡owed¡¡my¡¡life¡¡mainly¡¡to¡¡my¡¡horse¡£¡¡¡¡For£»¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡or¡¡so¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cliffs£»¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fringes¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡army¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡bush¡¡was¡¡teeming¡¡with¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡horses¡¡picketed¡¡in¡¡bunches£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡multitude¡¡of¡¡Cape¡carts¡¡and¡¡light¡¡wagons¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡like¡¡a¡¡colossal¡¡gathering¡¡for¡¡naachtmaal*1¡¡at¡¡a¡¡Dutch¡¡dorp£»¡¡but¡¡every¡¡man¡¡was¡¡black¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡through¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡my¡¡eye¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡armed¡¡with¡¡guns£»¡¡though¡¡many¡¡carried¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡their¡¡spears¡¡and¡¡shields¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡first¡¡impulse¡¡was¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡guns¡¡fly¡¡to¡¡shoulders£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡rush¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡path¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡boldest¡¡game¡¡was¡¡the¡¡safest£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡dug¡¡my¡¡heels¡¡into¡¡the¡¡schimmel¡¡and¡¡shouted¡¡for¡¡a¡¡passage¡£¡¡¡¡'Make¡¡way£¡'¡¡I¡¡cried¡¡in¡¡Kaffir¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡bear¡¡a¡¡message¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Inkulu¡£*2¡¡¡¡Clear¡¡out£»¡¡you¡¡dogs