prester john-第29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！


　be　only　a　matter　of　minutes　till　I　was　in　their　hands。

More　in　a　dogged　fury　of　disappointment　than　with　any　hope　of　escape　I　forced　my　sore　legs　up　the　glen。　　Ten　minutes　ago　I　had　been　exulting　in　the　glories　of　the　morning；　and　now　the　sun　was　not　less　bright　or　the　colours　less　fair；　but　the　heart　had　gone　out　of　the　spectator。　　At　first　I　managed　to　get　some　pace　out　of　myself；　partly　from　fear　and　partly　from　anger。　　But　I　soon　found　that　my　body　had　been　tried　too　far。　I　could　plod　along；　but　to　save　my　life　I　could　not　have　hurried。　　Any　healthy　savage　could　have　caught　me　in　a　hundred　yards。

The　track；　I　remember；　was　overhung　with　creepers；　and　often　I　had　to　squeeze　through　thickets　of　tree…ferns。　　Countless　little　brooks　ran　down　from　the　hillside；　threads　of　silver　among　the　green　pastures。　　Soon　I　left　the　stream　and　climbed　up　on　the　shoulder；　where　the　road　was　not　much　better　than　a　precipice。　　Every　step　was　a　weariness。　　I　could　hardly　drag　one　foot　after　the　other；　and　my　heart　was　beating　like　the　fanners　of　a　mill；　I　had　spasms　of　acute　sickness；　and　it　took　all　my　resolution　to　keep　me　from　lying　down　by　the　roadside。

At　last　I　was　at　the　top　of　the　shoulder　and　could　look　back。　There　was　no　sign　of　anybody　on　the　road　so　far　as　I　could　see。　　Could　I　have　escaped　them？　　I　had　been　in　the　shadow　of　the　trees　for　the　first　part；　and　they　might　have　lost　sight　of　me　and　concluded　that　I　had　avoided　the　glen　or　tried　one　of　the　faces。　　Before　me；　I　remember；　there　stretched　the　upper　glen；　a　green　cup…shaped　hollow　with　the　sides　scarred　by　ravines。　There　was　a　high　waterfall　in　one　of　them　which　was　white　as　snow　against　the　red　rocks。　　My　wits　must　have　been　shaky；　for　I　took　the　fall　for　a　snowdrift；　and　wondered　sillily　why　the　Berg　had　grown　so　Alpine。

A　faint　spasm　of　hope　took　me　into　that　green　cup。　　The　bracken　was　as　thick　as　on　the　Pentlands；　and　there　was　a　multitude　of　small　lovely　flowers　in　the　grass。　　It　was　like　a　water…meadow　at　home；　such　a　place　as　I　had　often　in　boyhood　searched　for　moss…cheepers'　and　corncrakes'　eggs。　　Birds　were　crying　round　me　as　I　broke　this　solitude；　and　one　small　buck　…　a　klipspringer　…　rose　from　my　feet　and　dashed　up　one　of　the　gullies。　　Before　me　was　a　steep　green　wall　with　the　sky　blue　above　it。　　Beyond　it　was　safety；　but　as　my　sweat…dimmed　eyes　looked　at　it　I　knew　that　I　could　never　reach　it。

Then　I　saw　my　pursuers。　　High　up　on　the　left　side；　and　rounding　the　rim　of　the　cup；　were　little　black　figures。　　They　had　not　followed　my　trail；　but；　certain　of　my　purpose；　had　gone　forward　to　intercept　me。　　I　remember　feeling　a　puny　weakling　compared　with　those　lusty　natives　who　could　make　such　good　going　on　steep　mountains。　　They　were　certainly　no　men　of　the　plains；　but　hillmen；　probably　some　remnants　of　old　Machudi's　tribe　who　still　squatted　in　the　glen。　　Machudi　was　a　blackguard　chief　whom　the　Boers　long　ago　smashed　in　one　of　their　native　wars。　　He　was　a　fierce　old　warrior　and　had　put　up　a　good　fight　to　the　last；　till　a　hired　impi　of　Swazis　had　surrounded　his　hiding…place　in　the　forest　and　destroyed　him。　　A　Boer　farmer　on　the　plateau　had　his　skull；　and　used　to　drink　whisky　out　of　it　when　he　was　merry。

The　sight　of　the　pursuit　was　the　last　straw。　　I　gave　up　hope；　and　my　intentions　were　narrowed　to　one　frantic　desire　…　to　hide　the　jewels。　　Patriotism；　which　I　had　almost　forgotten；　flickered　up　in　that　crisis。　　At　any　rate　Laputa　should　not　have　the　Snake。　　If　he　drove　out　the　white　man；　he　should　not　clasp　the　Prester's　rubies　on　his　great　neck。

There　was　no　cover　in　the　green　cup；　so　I　turned　up　the　ravine　on　the　right　side。　　The　enemy；　so　far　as　I　could　judge；　were　on　the　left　and　in　front；　and　in　the　gully　I　might　find　a　pot…hole　to　bury　the　necklet　in。　　Only　a　desperate　resolution　took　me　through　the　tangle　of　juniper　bushes　into　the　red　screes　of　the　gully。　　At　first　I　could　not　find　what　I　sought。　　The　stream　in　the　ravine　slid　down　a　long　slope　like　a　mill…race；　and　the　sides　were　bare　and　stony。　　Still　I　plodded　on；　helping　myself　with　a　hand　on　Colin's　back；　for　my　legs　were　numb　with　fatigue。　　By…and…by　the　gully　narrowed；　and　I　came　to　a　flat　place　with　a　long　pool。　　Beyond　was　a　little　fall；　and　up　this　I　climbed　into　a　network　of　tiny　cascades。　　Over　one　pool　hung　a　dead　tree…fern；　and　a　bay　from　it　ran　into　a　hole　of　the　rock。　I　slipped　the　jewels　far　into　the　hole；　where　they　lay　on　the　firm　sand；　showing　odd　lights　through　the　dim　blue　water。　Then　I　scrambled　down　again　to　the　flat　space　and　the　pool；　and　looked　round　to　see　if　any　one　had　reached　the　edge　of　the　ravine。　　There　was　no　sign　as　yet　of　the　pursuit；　so　I　dropped　limply　on　the　shingle　and　waited。　　For　I　had　suddenly　conceived　a　plan。

As　my　breath　came　back　to　me　my　wits　came　back　from　their　wandering。　　These　men　were　not　there　to　kill　me；　but　to　capture　me。　　They　could　know　nothing　of　the　jewels；　for　Laputa　would　never　have　dared　to　make　the　loss　of　the　sacred　Snake　public。　　Therefore　they　would　not　suspect　what　I　had　done；　and　would　simply　lead　me　to　Laputa　at　Inanda's　Kraal。　　I　began　to　see　the　glimmerings　of　a　plan　for　saving　my　life；　and　by　God's　grace；　for　saving　my　country　from　the　horrors　of　rebellion。　　The　more　I　thought　the　better　I　liked　it。　　It　demanded　a　bold　front；　and　it　might　well　miscarry；　but　I　had　taken　such　desperate　hazards　during　the　past　days　that　I　was　less　afraid　of　fortune。　　Anyhow；　the　choice　lay　between　certain　death　and　a　slender　chance　of　life；　and　it　was　easy　to　decide。

Playing　football；　I　used　to　notice　how　towards　the　end　of　a　game　I　might　be　sore　and　weary；　without　a　kick　in　my　body；　but　when　I　had　a　straight　job　of　tackling　a　man　my　strength　miraculously　returned。　　It　was　even　so　now。　　I　lay　on　my　side；　luxuriating　in　being　still；　and　slowly　a　sort　of　vigour　crept　back　into　my　limbs。　　Perhaps　a　half…hour　of　rest　was　given　me　before；　on　the　lip　of　the　gully；　I　saw　figures　appear。　　Looking　down　I　saw　several　men　who　had　come　across　from　the　opposite　side　of　the　valley；　scrambling　up　the　stream。　　I　got　to　my　feet；　with　Colin　bristling　beside　me；　and　awaited　them　with　the　stiffest　face　I　could　muster。

As　I　expected；　they　were　Machudi's　men。　　I　recognized　them　by　the　red　ochre　in　their　hair　and　their　copper…wire　necklets。　Big　fellows　they　were；　long…legged　and　deep　in　the　chest；　the　true　breed　of　mountaineers。　　I　admired　their　light　tread　on　the　slippery　rock。　　It　was　hopeless　to　think　of　evading　such　men　in　their　own　hills。

The　men　from　the　side　joined　the　men　in　front；　and　they　stood　looking　at　me　from　about　twelve　yards　off。　　They　were　armed　only　with　knobkerries；　and　very　clearly　were　no　part　of　Laputa's　army。　　This　made　their　errand　plain　to　me。

'Halt！'　I　said　in　Kaffir；　as　one　of　them　made　a　hesitating　step　to　advance。　　'Who　are　you　and　what　do　you　seek？'

There　was　no　answer；　but　they　looked　at　me　curiously。　Then　one　made　a　motion　with　his　stick。　　Colin　gave　a　growl；　and　would　have　been　on　him　if　I　had　not　kept　a　hand　on　his　collar。　The　rash　man　drew　back；　and　all　stood　stiff　and　perplexed。

'Keep　your　hands　by　your　side；'　I　said；　'or　the　dog；　who　has　a　devil；　will　devour　you。　　One　of　you　speak　for　the　rest　and　tell　me　your　purpose。'

For　a　moment　I　had　a　wild　notion　that　they　might　be　friends；　some　of　Arcoll's　scouts；　and　out　to　help　me。　　But　the　first　words　shattered　the　fancy。

'We　are　sent　by　Inkulu；'　the　biggest　of　them　said。　　'He　bade　us　bring　you　to　him。'

'And　what　if　I　refuse　to　go？'

'Then；　Baas；　we　must　take　you　to　him。　　We　are　under　the　vow　of　the　Snake。'

'Vow　of　fiddlestick！'　I　cried。　　'Who　do　you　think　is　the　bigger　chief；　the　Inkulu　or　Ratitswan？　　I　tell　you　Ratitswan　is　now　driving　Inkulu　before　him　as　a　wind　drives　rotten　leaves。　　It　will　be　well　for　you；　men　of　Machudi；　to　make　peace　with　Ratitswan　and　take　me　to　him　on　the　Berg。　　If　you　bring　me　to　him；　I　and　he　will　reward　you；　but　if　you　do　Inkulu's　bidding　you　will　soon　be　hunted　like　buck　out　of　your　hills。'

They　grinned　at　one　another；　but　I　could　see　that　my　words　had　no　effect。　　Laputa　had　done　his　business　too　well。

The　spokesman　shrugged　his　shoulders　in　the　way　the　Kaffirs　have。　'We　wish　you　no　ill；　Baas；　but　we　have　been　bidden　to　take　you　to　Inkulu。　　We　cannot　disobey　the　command　of　the　Snake。'

My　weakness　was　coming　on　me　again；　and　I　could　talk　no　more。　　I　sat　down　plump　on　the　ground；　almost　falling　into　the　pool。　　'Take　me　to　Inkulu；'　I　stammered　with　a　dry　throat；　'I　do　not　fear　him；'　and　I　rolled　half…fainting　on　my　back。

These　clansmen　of　Machudi　were　decent　fellows。　　One　of　them　had　some　Kaffir　beer　in　a　calabash；　which　he　gave　me　to　drink。　　The　stuff　was　thin　and　sickly；　but　the　fermentation　in　it　did　me　good。　　I　had　the　sense　to　remember　my　need　of　sleep。　'The　day　is　young；'　I　said；　'and　I　have　come　far。　　I　ask　to　be　allowed　to　sleep　for　an　hour。'

The　men　made　no　difficulty；　and　with　my　head　between　Colin's　paws　I　slipped　into　dreamless　slumber。

When　they　wakened　me　the　sun　was　beginning　to　climb　the　sky；　I　judged　it　to　be　about　eight　o'clock。　　They　had　made　a　little　fire　and　roasted　mealies。　　Some　of　the　food　they　gave　me；　and　I　ate　it　thankfully。　　I　was　feeling　better；　and　I　think　a　pipe　would　have　almost　comp