prester john-第37节

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n　the　direction　of　Blaauwildebeestefontein。　　After　that　his　movements　are　obscure。　　He　was　seen　on　the　Klein　Labongo；　but　the　sight　of　the　post　at　Blaauwildebeestefontein　must　have　convinced　him　that　a　korhaan　could　not　escape　that　way。　　The　next　we　heard　of　him　was　that　he　had　joined　Henriques。　After　daybreak　Arcoll；　having　got　his　reports　from　the　plateau；　and　knowing　roughly　the　direction　in　which　Laputa　was　shaping；　decided　to　advance　his　lines。　　The　farmers；　reinforced　by　three　more　commandoes　from　the　Pietersdorp　district；　still　held　the　plateau；　but　the　police　were　now　on　the　line　of　the　Great　Letaba。　　It　was　Arcoll's　plan　to　hold　that　river　and　the　long　neck　of　land　between　it　and　the　Labongo。　　His　force　was　hourly　increasing；　and　his　mounted　men　would　be　able　to　prevent　any　escape　on　the　flank　to　the　east　of　Wesselsburg。

So　it　happened　that　while　Laputa　was　being　driven　east　from　the　Berg；　Henriques　was　travelling　north；　and　their　lines　intersected。　　I　should　like　to　have　seen　the　meeting。　　It　must　have　told　Laputa　what　had　always　been　in　the　Portugoose's　heart。　　Henriques；　I　fancy；　was　making　for　the　cave　in　the　Rooirand。　　Laputa；　so　far　as　I　can　guess　at　his　mind；　had　a　plan　for　getting　over　the　Portuguese　border；　fetching　a　wide　circuit；　and　joining　his　men　at　any　of　the　concentrations　between　there　and　Amsterdam。

The　two　were　seen　at　midday　going　down　the　road　which　leads　from　Blaauwildebeestefontein　to　the　Lebombo。　　Then　they　struck　Arcoll's　new　front；　which　stretched　from　the　Letaba　to　the　Labongo。　　This　drove　them　north　again；　and　forced　them　to　swim　the　latter　stream。　　From　there　to　the　eastern　extremity　of　the　Rooirand；　which　is　the　Portuguese　frontier；　the　country　is　open　and　rolling；　with　a　thin　light　scrub　in　the　hollows。　　It　was　bad　cover　for　the　fugitives；　as　they　found　to　their　cost。　　For　Arcoll　had　purposely　turned　his　police　into　a　flying　column。　　They　no　longer　held　a　line；　they　scoured　a　country。　　Only　Laputa's　incomparable　veld…craft　and　great　bodily　strength　prevented　the　two　from　being　caught　in　half　an　hour。　　They　doubled　back；　swam　the　Labongo　again；　and　got　into　the　thick　bush　on　the　north　side　of　the　Blaauwildebeestefontein　road。　　The　Basuto　scouts　were　magnificent　in　the　open；　but　in　the　cover　they　were　again　at　fault。　　Laputa　and　Henriques　fairly　baffled　them；　so　that　the　pursuit　turned　to　the　west　in　the　belief　that　the　fugitives　had　made　for　Majinje's　kraal。　　In　reality　they　had　recrossed　the　Labongo　and　were　making　for　Umvelos'。


All　this　I　heard　afterwards；　but　in　the　meantime　I　lay　in　Arcoll's　tent　in　deep　unconsciousness。　　While　my　enemies　were　being　chased　like　partridges；　I　was　reaping　the　fruits　of　four　days'　toil　and　terror。　　The　hunters　had　become　the　hunted；　the　wheel　had　come　full　circle；　and　the　woes　of　David　Crawfurd　were　being　abundantly　avenged。

I　slept　till　midday　of　the　next　day。　　When　I　awoke　the　hot　noontide　sun　had　made　the　tent　like　an　oven。　　I　felt　better；　but　very　stiff　and　sore；　and　I　had　a　most　ungovernable　thirst。　There　was　a　pail　of　water　with　a　tin　pannikin　beside　the　tent　pole；　and　out　of　this　I　drank　repeated　draughts。　　Then　I　lay　down　again；　for　I　was　still　very　weary。

But　my　second　sleep　was　not　like　my　first。　　It　was　haunted　by　wild　nightmares。　　No　sooner　had　I　closed　my　eyes　than　I　began　to　live　and　move　in　a　fantastic　world。　　The　whole　bush　of　the　plains　lay　before　me；　and　I　watched　it　as　if　from　some　view…point　in　the　clouds。　　It　was　midday；　and　the　sandy　patches　shimmered　under　a　haze　of　heat。　　I　saw　odd　little　movements　in　the　bush　…　a　buck's　head　raised；　a　paauw　stalking　solemnly　in　the　long　grass；　a　big　crocodile　rolling　off　a　mudbank　in　the　river。　　And　then　I　saw　quite　clearly　Laputa's　figure　going　east。

In　my　sleep　I　did　not　think　about　Arcoll's　manoeuvres。　　My　mind　was　wholly　set　upon　Laputa。　　He　was　walking　wearily；　yet　at　a　good　pace；　and　his　head　was　always　turning；　like　a　wild　creature　snuffing　the　wind。　　There　was　something　with　him；　a　shapeless　shadow；　which　I　could　not　see　clearly。　　His　neck　was　bare；　but　I　knew　well　that　the　collar　was　in　his　pouch。

He　stopped；　turned　west；　and　I　lost　him。　　The　bush　world　for　a　space　was　quite　silent；　and　I　watched　it　eagerly　as　an　aeronaut　would　watch　the　ground　for　a　descent。　　For　a　long　time　I　could　see　nothing。　　Then　in　a　wood　near　a　river　there　seemed　to　be　a　rustling。　　Some　guinea…fowl　flew　up　as　if　startled；　and　a　stembok　scurried　out。　　I　knew　that　Laputa　must　be　there。

Then；　as　I　looked　at　the　river；　I　saw　a　head　swimming。　　Nay；　I　saw　two；　one　some　distance　behind　the　other。　　The　first　man　landed　on　the　far　bank；　and　I　recognized　Laputa。　　The　second　was　a　slight　short　figure；　and　I　knew　it　was　Henriques。

I　remember　feeling　very　glad　that　these　two　had　come　together。　　It　was　certain　now　that　Henriques　would　not　escape。　Either　Laputa　would　find　out　the　truth　and　kill　him；　or　I　would　come　up　with　him　and　have　my　revenge。　　In　any　case　he　was　outside　the　Kaffir　pale；　adventuring　on　his　own。

I　watched　the　two　till　they　halted　near　a　ruined　building。　Surely　this　was　the　store　I　had　built　at　Umvelos'。　　The　thought　gave　me　a　horrid　surprise。　　Laputa　and　Henriques　were　on　their　way　to　the　Rooirand！


I　woke　with　a　start　to　find　my　forehead　damp　with　sweat。　There　was　some　fever　on　me；　I　think；　for　my　teeth　were　chattering。　　Very　clear　in　my　mind　was　the　disquieting　thought　that　Laputa　and　Henriques　would　soon　be　in　the　cave。

One　of　two　things　must　happen　…　either　Henriques　would　kill　Laputa；　get　the　collar　of　rubies；　and　be　in　the　wilds　of　Mozambique　before　I　could　come　up　with　his　trail；　or　Laputa　would　outwit　him；　and　have　the　handling　himself　of　the　treasure　of　gold　and　diamonds　which　had　been　laid　up　for　the　rising。　　If　he　thought　there　was　a　risk　of　defeat；　I　knew　he　would　send　my　gems　to　the　bottom　of　the　Labongo；　and　all　my　weary　work　would　go　for　nothing。　　I　had　forgotten　all　about　patriotism。　　In　that　hour　the　fate　of　the　country　was　nothing　to　me；　and　I　got　no　satisfaction　from　the　thought　that　Laputa　was　severed　from　his　army。　　My　one　idea　was　that　the　treasure　would　be　lost；　the　treasure　for　which　I　had　risked　my　life。

There　is　a　kind　of　courage　which　springs　from　bitter　anger　and　disappointment。　　I　had　thought　that　I　had　bankrupted　my　spirit；　but　I　found　that　there　was　a　new　passion　in　me　to　which　my　past　sufferings　taught　no　lesson。　　My　uneasiness　would　not　let　me　rest　a　moment　longer。　　I　rose　to　my　feet；　holding　on　by　the　bed；　and　staggered　to　the　tent　pole。　　I　was　weak；　but　not　so　very　weak　that　I　could　not　make　one　last　effort。　　It　maddened　me　that　I　should　have　done　so　much　and　yet　fail　at　the　end。

From　a　nail　on　the　tent　pole　hung　a　fragment　of　looking…　glass　which　Arcoll　used　for　shaving。　　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　my　face　in　it；　white　and　haggard　and　lined；　with　blue　bags　below　the　eyes。　　The　doctor　the　night　before　had　sponged　it；　but　he　had　not　got　rid　of　all　the　stains　of　travel。　　In　particular　there　was　a　faint　splash　of　blood　on　the　left　temple。　　I　remembered　that　this　was　what　I　had　got　from　the　basin　of　goat's　blood　that　night　in　the　cave。　I　think　that　the　sight　of　that　splash　determined　me。　　Whether　I　willed　it　or　not；　I　was　sealed　of　Laputa's　men。　　I　must　play　the　game　to　the　finish；　or　never　again　know　peace　of　mind　on　earth。　　These　last　four　days　had　made　me　very　old。


I　found　a　pair　of　Arcoll's　boots；　roomy　with　much　wearing；　into　which　I　thrust　my　bruised　feet。　　Then　I　crawled　to　the　door；　and　shouted　for　a　boy　to　bring　my　horse。　　A　Basuto　appeared；　and；　awed　by　my　appearance；　went　off　in　a　hurry　to　see　to　the　schimmel。　　It　was　late　afternoon；　about　the　same　time　of　day　as　had　yesterday　seen　me　escaping　from　Machudi's。　　The　Bruderstroom　camp　was　empty；　though　sentinels　were　posted　at　the　approaches。　　I　beckoned　the　only　white　man　I　saw；　and　asked　where　Arcoll　was。　　He　told　me　that　he　had　no　news；　but　added　that　the　patrols　were　still　on　the　road　as　far　as　Wesselsburg。　From　this　I　gathered　that　Arcoll　must　have　gone　far　out　into　the　bush　in　his　chase。　　I　did　not　want　to　see　him；　above　all；　I　did　not　want　him　to　find　Laputa。　　It　was　my　private　business　that　I　rode　on；　and　I　asked　for　no　allies。

Somebody　brought　me　a　cup　of　thick　coffee；　which　I　could　not　drink；　and　helped　me　into　the　saddle。　　The　Schimmel　was　fresh；　and　kicked　freely　as　I　cantered　off　the　grass　into　the　dust　of　the　highroad。　　The　whole　world；　I　remember；　was　still　and　golden　in　the　sunset。


CHAPTER　XX　MY　LAST　SIGHT　OF　THE　REVEREND　JOHN　LAPUTA


It　was　dark　before　I　got　into　the　gorge　of　the　Letaba。　　I　passed　many　patrols；　but　few　spoke　to　me；　and　none　tried　to　stop　me。　Some　may　have　known　me；　but　I　think　it　was　my　face　and　figure　which　tied　their　tongues。　　I　must　have　been　pale　as　death；　with　tangled　hair　and　fever　burning　in　my　eyes。　　Also　on　my　left　temple　was　the　splash　of　blood。

At　Main　Drift　I　found　a　big　body　of　police　holding　the　ford。　I　splashed　through　and　stumbled　into　one　of　their　camp…fires。　A　man　questioned　me；　and　told　me　that　Arcoll　had　got　his　quarry。　　'He's　dead；　they　say。　　They　shot　him　out　on　the　hills　when　he　was　making　for　the　Limpopo。'　　But　I　knew　that　this　was　not　true。　　It　was　burned　on　my　mind　that　Laputa　was　alive；　nay；　was　waiting　for　me；　a