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！
a night hast thou slept； and the Lion also。 See； he
sleepeth yet。〃
〃Blessed is sleep；〃 I answered； 〃for it swallows up
recollection。〃
〃Tell me；〃 he said； 〃what hath befallen ye； and what
is this strange story of the death of her who dieth
not。 Bethink thee； my son： if this be true； then is
thy danger and the danger of the Lion very greatnay；
almost is the pot red wherewith ye shall be potted；
and the stomachs of those who shall eat ye are already
hungry for the feast。 Knowest thou not that these
Amahagger； my children； these dwellers in the caves；
hate ye？ They hate ye as strangers； they hate ye more
because of their brethren whom _i_ She _i_ put to the
torment for your sake。 Assuredly； if once they learn
that there is naught to fear from Hiya； from the
terrible _i_ One…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ ； they will
slay ye by the pot。 But let me hear thy tale； my poor
Baboon。〃
Thus adjured； I set to work and told himnot
everything； indeed； for I did not think it desirable
to do so； but sufficient for my purpose； which was to
make him understand that _i_ She _i_ was really no
more； having fallen into some fire； and； as I put it
for the real thing would have been incomprehensible to
himbeen burned up。 I also told him some of the
horrors we had undergone in effecting our escape； and
these produced a great impression on him。 But I
clearly saw that he did not believe in the report of
Ayesha's death。 He believed； indeed； that we thought
that she was dead； but his explanation was that it had
suited her to disappear for a while。 Once； he said； in
his father's time； she had done so for twelve years；
and there was a tradition in the country that many
centuries back no one had seen her for a whole
generation； when she suddenly reappeared； and
destroyed a woman who had assumed the position of
queen。 I said nothing to this； but only shook my head
sadly。 Alas！ I knew too well that Ayesha would appear
no more； or； at any rate； that Billali would see her
again。
〃And now；〃 concluded Billali； 〃what wouldst thou do；
my Baboon？〃
〃Nay；〃 I said； 〃I know not； my father。 Can we not
escape from this country？〃
He shook his head。 〃It is very difficult。 By Ko^r ye
cannot pass； for ye would be seen； and as soon as
those fierce ones found that ye were alone； well；〃 and
he smiled significantly； and made a movement as though
he were placing a hat on his head。 〃But there is a way
over the cliff whereof I once spake to thee； where
they drive the cattle out to pasture。 Then beyond the
pastures are three days journey through the marshes；
and after that I know not； but I have heard that seven
days' journey from thence is a mighty river； which
floweth to the black water。 If ye could come thither；
perchance ye might escape； but how can ye come
thither？〃
〃Billali；〃 I said； 〃once； thou knowest； I did save thy
life。 Now pay back the debt； my father； and save me
mine and my friend's； the Lion's。 It shall be a
pleasant thing for thee to think of when thine hour
comes； and something to set in the scale against the
evil doing of thy days； if perchance thou hast done
any evil。 Also； if thou be right； and if _i_ She _i_
doth but hide herself； surely when she comes again she
shall reward thee。〃
〃My son the Baboon；〃 answered the old man； 〃think not
that I have an ungrateful heart。 Well do I remember
how thou didst rescue me when those dogs stood by to
see me drown。 Measure for measure will I give thee；
and if thou canst be saved； surely I will save thee。
listen： by dawn to…morrow be prepared； for litters
shall be here to bear ye away across the mountains；
and through the marshes beyond。 This will I do； saying
that it is the word of _i_ She _i_ that it be done；
and he who obeyeth not the word of _i_ She _i_ food is
he for the hyenas。 Then when ye have crossed the
marshes； ye must strike with your own hands； so that
perchance； if good fortune go with you； ye may live to
come to that black water whereof ye told me。 And now；
see； the Lion wakes； and ye must eat the food I have
made ready for you。〃
Leo's condition； when once he was fairly aroused；
proved not to be so bad as might have been expected
from his appearance； and we both of us managed to eat
a hearty meal； which； indeed； we needed sadly enough。
After this we limped down to the spring and bathed；
and then came back and slept again till evening； when
we once more ate enough for five。 Billali was away all
that day； no doubt making arrangements about litters
and bearers； for we were awakened in the middle of the
night by the arrival of a considerable number of men
in the little camp。
At dawn the old man himself appeared； and told us that
he had； by using _i_ She _i_ 's dreaded name； though
with some difficulty； succeeded in getting the
necessary men and two guides to conduct us across the
swamps； and that he urged us to start at once； at the
same time announcing his intention of accompanying us
so as to protect us against treachery。 I was much
touched by this act of kindness on the part of that
wily old barbarian towards two utterly defenceless
strangers。 A threeor in his case； for he would have
to return； sixdays' journey through those deadly
swamps was no light undertaking for a man of his age；
but he consented to do it cheerfully in order to
promote our safety。 It shows that even among those
dreadful Amahaggerwho are certainly； with their
gloom and their devilish and ferocious rites； by far
the most terrible savages that I ever heard ofthere
are people with kindly hearts。 Of course self…interest
may have had something to do with it。 He may have
thought that _i_ She _i_ would suddenly reappear and
demand an account of us at his hands； but still；
allowing for all deductions； it was a great deal more
than we could expect under the circumstances； and I
can only say that I shall； for as long as I live；
cherish a most affectionate remembrance of my nominal
parent； old Billali。
Accordingly； after swallowing some food； we started in
the litters； feeling； so far as our bodies went；
wonderfully like our old selves after our long rest
and sleep。 I must leave the condition of our minds to
the imagination。
Then came a terrible pull up the cliff。 Sometimes the
ascent was natural； more often it was a zigzag roadway
cut； no doubt； in the first instance by the old
inhabitants of Ko^r。 The Amahagger say they drive
their spare cattle over it once a year to pasture
outside； all I know is that those cattle must be
uncommonly active on their feet。 Of course the litters
were useless here； so we had to walk。
By midday； however； we reached the great flat top of
that mighty wail of rock； and grand enough the view
was from it； with the plain of Ko^r； in the centre of
which we could clearly make out the pillared ruins of
the Temple of Truth to the one side； and the boundless
and melancholy marsh on the other。 This wall of rock；
which had no doubt once formed the lip of the crater；
was about a mile and a half thick； and still covered
with clinker。 Nothing grew there； and the