prester john-第32节

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'Give　me　back　the　Ndhlondhlo；'　he　cried；　like　a　petted　child。　'Give　me　back　the　collar　of　John。'

This　was　the　moment　I　had　been　waiting　for。

'Now　see　here；　Mr　Laputa；'　I　said。　　'I　am　going　to　talk　business。　　Before　you　started　this　rising；　you　were　a　civilized　man　with　a　good　education。　　Well；　just　remember　that　education　for　a　minute；　and　look　at　the　matter　in　a　sensible　light。　I'm　not　like　the　Portugoose。　　I　don't　want　to　steal　your　rubies。　I　swear　to　God　that　what　I　have　told　you　is　true。　　Henriques　killed　the　priest；　and　would　have　bagged　the　jewels　if　I　had　not　laid　him　out。　　I　ran　away　because　I　was　going　to　be　killed　to…day；　and　I　took　the　collar　to　keep　it　out　of　Henriques'　hands。　　I　tell　you　I　would　never　have　shot　the　old　man　myself。　　Very　well；　what　happened？　　Your　men　overtook　me；　and　I　had　no　choice　but　to　surrender。　　Before　they　reached　me；　I　hid　the　collar　in　a　place　I　know　of。　　Now；　I　am　going　to　make　you　a　fair　and　square　business　proposition。　　You　may　be　able　to　get　on　without　the　Snake；　but　I　can　see　you　want　it　back。　　I　am　in　a　tight　place　and　want　nothing　so　much　as　my　life。　　I　offer　to　trade　with　you。　　Give　me　my　life；　and　I　will　take　you　to　the　place　and　put　the　jewels　in　your　hand。　　Otherwise　you　may　kill　me；　but　you　will　never　see　the　collar　of　John　again。'

I　still　think　that　was　a　pretty　bold　speech　for　a　man　to　make　in　a　predicament　like　mine。　　But　it　had　its　effect。　　Laputa　ceased　to　be　the　barbarian　king；　and　talked　like　a　civilized　man。

'That　is；　as　you　call　it；　a　business　proposition。　　But　supposing　I　refuse　it？　　Supposing　I　take　measures　here　…　in　this　kraal　…　to　make　you　speak；　and　then　send　for　the　jewels。'

'There　are　several　objections；'　I　said；　quite　cheerfully；　for　I　felt　that　I　was　gaining　ground。　　'One　is　that　I　could　not　explain　to　any　mortal　soul　how　to　find　the　collar。　　I　know　where　it　is；　but　I　could　not　impart　the　knowledge。　　Another　is　that　the　country　between　here　and　Machudi's　is　not　very　healthy　for　your　people。　　Arcoll's　men　are　all　over　it；　and　you　cannot　have　a　collection　of　search　parties　rummaging　about　in　the　glen　for　long。　　Last　and　most　important；　if　you　send　any　one　for　the　jewels；　you　confess　their　loss。　　No；　Mr　Laputa；　if　you　want　them　back；　you　must　go　yourself　and　take　me　with　you。'

He　stood　silent　for　a　little；　with　his　brows　knit　in　thought。　Then　he　opened　the　door　and　went　out。　　I　guessed　that　he　had　gone　to　discover　from　his　scouts　the　state　of　the　country　between　Inanda's　Kraal　and　Machudi's　glen。　　Hope　had　come　back　to　me；　and　I　sat　among　the　mealie…stalks　trying　to　plan　the　future。　　If　he　made　a　bargain　I　believed　he　would　keep　it。　Once　set　free　at　the　head　of　Machudi's；　I　should　be　within　an　hour　or　two　of　Arcoll's　posts。　　So　far；　I　had　done　nothing　for　the　cause。　　My　message　had　been　made　useless　by　Henriques'　treachery；　and　I　had　stolen　the　Snake　only　to　restore　it。　　But　if　I　got　off　with　my　life；　there　would　be　work　for　me　to　do　in　the　Armageddon　which　I　saw　approaching。　　Should　I　escape；　I　wondered。　　What　would　hinder　Laputa　from　setting　his　men　to　follow　me；　and　seize　me　before　I　could　get　into　safety？　　My　only　chance　was　that　Arcoll　might　have　been　busy　this　day；　and　the　countryside　too　full　of　his　men　to　let　Laputa's　Kaffirs　through。　　But　if　this　was　so；　Laputa　and　I　should　be　stopped；　and　then　Laputa　would　certainly　kill　me。　　I　wished　…　and　yet　I　did　not　wish　…　that　Arcoll　should　hold　all　approaches。　　As　I　reflected；　my　first　exhilaration　died　away。　　The　scales　were　still　heavily　weighted　against　me。

Laputa　returned；　closing　the　door　behind　him。

'I　will　bargain　with　you　on　my　own　terms。　　You　shall　have　your　life；　and　in　return　you　will　take　me　to　the　place　where　you　hid　the　collar；　and　put　it　into　my　hands。　　I　will　ride　there；　and　you　will　run　beside　me；　tied　to　my　saddle。　　If　we　are　in　danger　from　the　white　men；　I　will　shoot　you　dead。　　Do　you　accept？'

'Yes；'　I　said；　scrambling　to　my　feet；　and　ruefully　testing　my　shaky　legs。　　'But　if　you　want　me　to　get　to　Machudi's　you　must　go　slowly；　for　I　am　nearly　foundered。'

Then　he　brought　out　a　Bible；　and　made　me　swear　on　it　that　I　would　do　as　I　promised。

'Swear　to　me　in　turn；'　I　said；　'that　you　will　give　me　my　life　if　I　restore　the　jewels。'

He　swore；　kissing　the　book　like　a　witness　in　a　police…court。　　I　had　forgotten　that　the　man　called　himself　a　Christian。

'One　thing　more　I　ask；'　I　said。　　'I　want　my　dog　decently　buried。'　'That　has　been　already　done；'　was　the　reply。　　'He　was　a　brave　animal；　and　my　people　honour　bravery。'




CHAPTER　XVII　A　DEAL　AND　ITS　CONSEQUENCES


My　eyes　were　bandaged　tight；　and　a　thong　was　run　round　my　right　wrist　and　tied　to　Laputa's　saddle…bow。　　I　felt　the　glare　of　the　afternoon　sun　on　my　head；　and　my　shins　were　continually　barked　by　stones　and　trees；　but　these　were　my　only　tidings　of　the　outer　world。　　By　the　sound　of　his　paces　Laputa　was　riding　the　Schimmel；　and　if　any　one　thinks　it　easy　to　go　blindfold　by　a　horse's　side　I　hope　he　will　soon　have　the　experience。　　In　the　darkness　I　could　not　tell　the　speed　of　the　beast。　　When　I　ran　I　overshot　it　and　was　tugged　back；　when　I　walked　my　wrist　was　dislocated　with　the　tugs　forward。

For　an　hour　or　more　I　suffered　this　breakneck　treatment。　We　were　descending。　　Often　I　could　hear　the　noise　of　falling　streams；　and　once　we　splashed　through　a　mountain　ford。　Laputa　was　taking　no　risks；　for　he　clearly　had　in　mind　the　possibility　of　some　accident　which　would　set　me　free；　and　he　had　no　desire　to　have　me　guiding　Arcoll　to　his　camp。

But　as　I　stumbled　and　sprawled　down　these　rocky　tracks　I　was　not　thinking　of　Laputa's　plans。　　My　whole　soul　was　filled　with　regret　for　Colin；　and　rage　against　his　murderer。　　After　my　first　mad　rush　I　had　not　thought　about　my　dog。　　He　was　dead；　but　so　would　I　be　in　an　hour　or　two；　and　there　was　no　cause　to　lament　him。　　But　at　the　first　revival　of　hope　my　grief　had　returned。　　As　they　bandaged　my　eyes　I　was　wishing　that　they　would　let　me　see　his　grave。　　As　I　followed　beside　Laputa　I　told　myself　that　if　ever　I　got　free；　when　the　war　was　over　I　would　go　to　Inanda's　Kraal；　find　the　grave；　and　put　a　tombstone　over　it　in　memory　of　the　dog　that　saved　my　life。　　I　would　also　write　that　the　man　who　shot　him　was　killed　on　such　and　such　a　day　at　such　and　such　a　place　by　Colin's　master。　　I　wondered　why　Laputa　had　not　the　wits　to　see　the　Portugoose's　treachery　and　to　let　me　fight　him。　　I　did　not　care　what　were　the　weapons　…　knives　or　guns；　or　naked　fists　…　I　would　certainly　kill　him；　and　afterwards　the　Kaffirs　could　do　as　they　pleased　with　me。　　Hot　tears　of　rage　and　weakness　wet　the　bandage　on　my　eyes；　and　the　sobs　which　came　from　me　were　not　only　those　of　weariness。

At　last　we　halted。　　Laputa　got　down　and　took　off　the　bandage；　and　I　found　myself　in　one　of　the　hill…meadows　which　lie　among　the　foothills　of　the　Wolkberg。　　The　glare　blinded　me；　and　for　a　little　I　could　only　see　the　marigolds　growing　at　my　feet。　　Then　I　had　a　glimpse　of　the　deep　gorge　of　the　Great　Letaba　below　me；　and　far　to　the　east　the　flats　running　out　to　the　hazy　blue　line　of　the　Lebombo　hills。　　Laputa　let　me　sit　on　the　ground　for　a　minute　or　two　to　get　my　breath　and　rest　my　feet。　　'That　was　a　rough　road；'　he　said。　　'You　can　take　it　easier　now；　for　I　have　no　wish　to　carry　you。'　　He　patted　the　Schimmel；　and　the　beautiful　creature　turned　his　mild　eyes　on　the　pair　of　us。　　I　wondered　if　he　recognized　his　rider　of　two　nights　ago。

I　had　seen　Laputa　as　the　Christian　minister；　as　the　priest　and　king　in　the　cave；　as　the　leader　of　an　army　at　Dupree's　Drift；　and　at　the　kraal　we　had　left　as　the　savage　with　all　self…　control　flung　to　the　winds。　　I　was　to　see　this　amazing　man　in　a　further　part。　　For　he　now　became　a　friendly　and　rational　companion。　　He　kept　his　horse　at　an　easy　walk；　and　talked　to　me　as　if　we　were　two　friends　out　for　a　trip　together。　　Perhaps　he　had　talked　thus　to　Arcoll；　the　half…caste　who　drove　his　Cape…cart。

The　wooded　bluff　above　Machudi's　glen　showed　far　in　front。　　He　told　me　the　story　of　the　Machudi　war；　which　I　knew　already；　but　he　told　it　as　a　saga。　　There　had　been　a　stratagem　by　which　one　of　the　Boer　leaders　…　a　Grobelaar；　I　think　…　got　some　of　his　men　into　the　enemy's　camp　by　hiding　them　in　a　captured　forage　wagon。

'Like　the　Trojan　horse；'　I　said　involuntarily。

'Yes；'　said　my　companion；　'the　same　old　device；'　and　to　my　amazement　he　quoted　some　lines　of　Virgil。

'Do　you　understand　Latin？'　he　asked。

I　told　him　that　I　had　some　slight　knowledge　of　the　tongue；　acquired　at　the　university　of　Edinburgh。　　Laputa　nodded。　　He　mentioned　the　name　of　a　professor　there；　and　commented　on　his　scholarship。

'O　man！'　I　cried；　'what　in　God's　name　are　you　doing　in　this　business？　　You　that　are　educated　and　have　seen　the　world；　what　makes　you　try　to　put　the　clock　back？　　You　want　to　wipe　out　the　civilization　of　a　thousand　years；　and　turn　us　all　into　savages。　It's　the　more　shame　to　you　when　you　know　better。'

'You　misunderstand　me；'　he　said　quietly。　　'It　is　because　I　have　sucked　civilization　dry　that　I　know　the　bitterness　of　the　fruit。　　I　want　a　simpler　and　better　world；　and　I　want　that　world　for　my　own　people。　　I　am　a　Christian；　and　will　you　tell　me　that　your　civilization　pays　much　attention　to　Christ？　　You　call　yourself　a