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！
and let us have Yuke。〃
〃Iss； master： here I be。〃
〃You can bleat like a lamb； for I've heard ye。〃
〃Iss； master。 I bleats beautiful；〃 and she showed snowy teeth from
ear to ear。
〃Well； then； when the varmint are at our heels； draw in thy woolly
head； and bleat like a young lamb。 They won't turn from that； I
know； the vagabonds。〃
Matters being thus prepared； they sauntered on； but the jackals
were very wary。 They came like shadows； so departeda great many
times： but at last being re…enforced； they lessened the distance；
and got so close； that Ucatella withdrew her head； and bleated
faintly inside the wagon。 The men turned； levelling their rifles；
and found the troop within twenty yards of them。 They wheeled
directly： but the four barrels poured their flame； four loud
reports startled the night； and one jackal lay dead as a stone；
another limped behind the flying crowd； and one lay kicking。 He
was soon despatched； and both carcasses flung over the patient
oxen； and good…by jackals for the rest of that journey。
Ucatella； with all a Kafir's love of fire…arms； clapped her hands
with delight。 〃My child shoots loud and strong；〃 said she。
〃Ay； ay；〃 replied Phoebe； 〃they are all alike； wherever there's
men； look for quarrelling and firing off。 We had only to sit quiet
in the wagon。〃
〃Ay。〃 said Dick； 〃the cattle especiallyfor it is them the varmint
were afterand let 'em eat my Hottentots。〃
At this picture of the cattle inside the wagon； and the jackals
supping on cold Hottentot alongside； Phoebe； who had no more humor
than a cat； but a heart of gold； shut up； and turned red with
confusion at her false estimate of the recent transaction in fur。
When the sun rose they found themselves in a tract somewhat less
arid and inhuman； and； at last； at the rise of a gentle slope； they
saw； half a mile before them； a large farmhouse partly clad with
creepers； and a little plot of turf； the fruit of eternal watering；
item； a flower…bed； item； snow…white palings； item； an air of
cleanliness and neatness scarcely known to those dirty descendants
of clean ancestors； the Boers。 At some distance a very large dam
glittered in the sun； and a troop of snow…white sheep were watering
at it。
〃ENGLAND！〃 cried Christopher。
〃Ay； sir；〃 said Phoebe； 〃as nigh as man can make it。〃 But soon she
began to fret： 〃Oh； dear！ where are they all？ If it was me； I'd be
at the door looking out。 Ah； there goes Yuke to rouse them up。〃
〃Come； Pheeb； don't you fidget；〃 said Dick kindly。 〃Why； the lazy
lot are scarce out of their beds by this time。〃
〃More shame for 'em。 If they were away from me； and coming home； I
should be at the door day AND night； I know。 Ah！〃
She uttered a scream of delight； for just then； out came Ucatella；
with little Tommy on her shoulder； and danced along to meet her。
As she came close； she raised the chubby child high in the air； and
he crowed； and then she lowered him to his mother； who rushed at
him； seized； and devoured him with a hundred inarticulate cries of
joy and love unspeakable。
〃NATURE！〃 said Christopher dogmatically； recognizing an old
acquaintance； and booking it as one more conquest gained over the
past。 But there was too much excitement over the cherub to attend
to him。 So he watched the woman gravely； and began to moralize
with all his might。 〃This；〃 said he； 〃is what we used to call
maternal love； and all animals had it； and that is why the noble
savage went for him。 It was very good of you； Miss Savage；〃 said
the poor soul sententiously。
〃Good of her！〃 cried Phoebe。 〃She is all goodness。 Savage； find
me a Dutchwoman like her！ I'll give her a good cuddle for it；〃 and
she took the Kafir round the neck； and gave her a hearty kiss； and
made the little boy kiss her too。
At this moment out came a collie dog； hunting Ucatella by scent
alone； which process landed him headlong in the group； he gave loud
barks of recognition； fawned on Phoebe and Dick； smelt poor
Christopher； gave a growl of suspicion； and lurked about squinting；
dissatisfied； and lowering his tail。
〃Thou art wrong； lad； for once；〃 said Dick； 〃for he's an old
friend； and a good one。〃
〃After the dog； perhaps some Christian will come to welcome us；〃
said poor Phoebe。
Obedient to the wish； out walked Sophy； the English nurse； a
scraggy woman； with a very cocked nose and thin； pinched lips； and
an air of respectability and pertness mingled。 She dropped a short
courtesy； shot the glance of a basilisk at Ucatella； and said
stiffly； 〃You are welcome home； ma'am。〃 Then she took the little
boy as one having authority。 Not that Phoebe would have
surrendered him； but just then Mr。 Falcon strolled out； with a
cigar in his mouth； and Phoebe； with her heart in HER mouth； flew
to meet him。 There was a rapturous conjugal embrace； followed by
mutual inquiries； and the wagon drew up at the door。 Then； for the
first time； Falcon observed Staines； saw at once he was a
gentleman； and touched his hat to him； to which Christopher
responded in kind； and remembered he had done so in the locked…up
past。
Phoebe instantly drew her husband apart by the sleeve。 〃Who do you
think that is？ You'll never guess。 'Tis the great doctor that
saved Dick's life in England with cutting of his throat。 But； oh；
my dear； he is not the man he was。 He is afflicted。 Out of his
mind partly。 Well； we must cure him； and square the account for
Dick。 I'm a proud woman at finding him； and bringing him here to
make him all right again； I can tell you。 Oh； I am happy； I am
happy。 Little did I think to be so happy as I am。 And； my dear； I
have brought you a whole sackful of newspapers； old and new。〃
〃That is a good girl。 But tell me a little more about him。 What
is his name？〃
〃Christie。〃
〃Dr。 Christie？〃
〃No doubt。 He wasn't an apothecary； or a chemist； you may be sure；
but a high doctor； and the cleverest ever was or ever will be： and
isn't it sad； love； to see him brought down so？ My heart yearns
for the poor man： and then his wifethe sweetest； loveliest
creature you everoh！〃 Phoebe stopped very short； for she
remembered something all of a sudden； nor did she ever again give
Falcon a chance of knowing that the woman； whose presence had so
disturbed him； was this very Dr。 Christie's wife。 〃Curious！〃
thought she to herself； 〃the world to be so large； and yet so
small：〃 then aloud； 〃They are unpacking the wagon； come； dear。 I
don't think I have forgotten anything of yours。 There's cigars；
and tobacco； and powder； and shot； and bullets； and everything to
make you comfortable； as my duty 'tis； andoh； but I'm a happy
woman。〃
Hottentots； big and little； clustered about the wagon。 Treasure
after treasure was delivered with cries of delight； the dogs found
out it was a joyful time； and barked about the wheeled treasury；
and the place did not quiet down till sunset。
A plain but tidy little room was given to Christopher； and he slept
there like a top。 Next morning his nurse called him up to help her
water the grass。 She led the way with a tub on her head and two
buckets in it。 She took him to the dam； when she got there she
too