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insoluble。
CHAPTER VII
LORD RAGNALL'S STORY
That night Hans slept at my house； or rather outside of it in the
garden； or upon the stoep； saying that he feared arrest if he went to
the town； because of his quarrel with the white man。 As it happened；
however； the other party concerned never stirred further in the
business； probably because he was too drunk to remember who had
knocked him into the sluit or whether he had gravitated thither by
accident。
On the following morning we renewed our discussion； debating in detail
every possible method of reaching the Kendah people by help of such
means as we could command。 Like that of the previous night it proved
somewhat abortive。 Obviously such a long and hazardous expedition
ought to be properly financed andwhere was the money？ At length I
came to the conclusion that if we went at all it would be best； in the
circumstances； for Hans and myself to start alone with a Scotch cart
drawn by oxen and driven by a couple of Zulu hunters； which we could
lade with ammunition and a few necessaries。
Thus lightly equipped we might work through Zululand and thence
northward to Beza…Town； the capital of the Mazitu； where we were sure
of a welcome。 After that we must take our chance。 It was probable that
we should never reach the district where these Kendah were supposed to
dwell； but at least I might be able to kill some elephants in the wild
country beyond Zululand。
While we were talking I heard the gun fired which announced the
arrival of the English mail； and stepping to the end of the garden；
saw the steamer lying at anchor outside the bar。 Then I went indoors
to write a few business letters which； since I had become immersed in
the affairs of that unlucky gold mine； had grown to be almost a daily
task with me。 I had got through several with many groanings； for none
were agreeable in their tenor； when Hans poked his head through the
window in a silent kind of a way as a big snake might do； and said：
〃Baas； I think there are two baases out on the road there who are
looking for you。 Very fine baases whom I don't know。〃
〃Shareholders in the Bona Fide Gold Mine；〃 thought I to myself； then
added as I prepared to leave through the back door： 〃If they come here
tell them I am not at home。 Tell them I left early this morning for
the Congo River to look for the sources of the Nile。〃
〃Yes； Baas；〃 said Hans； collapsing on to the stoep。
I went out through the back door； sorrowing that I； Allan Quatermain；
should have reached a rung in the ladder of life whence I shrank from
looking any stranger in the face； for fear of what he might have to
say to me。 Then suddenly my pride asserted itself。 After all what was
there of which I should be ashamed？ I would face these irate
shareholders as I had faced the others yesterday。
I walked round the little house to the front garden which was planted
with orange trees； and up to a big moonflower bush； I believe /datura/
is its right name； that grew near the pomegranate hedge which
separated my domain from the road。 There a conversation was in
progress； if so it may be called。
〃/Ikona/〃 （that is： 〃I don't know〃）； 〃/Inkoosi/〃 （i。e。 〃Chief〃）； said
some Kafir in a stupid drawl。
Thereon a voice that instantly struck me as familiar； answered：
〃We want to know where the great hunter lives。〃
〃/Ikona/；〃 said the Kafir。
〃Can't you remember his native name？〃 asked another voice which was
also familiar to me； for I never forget voices though I am unable to
place them at once。
〃The great hunter； Here…come…a…zany；〃 said the first voice
triumphantly； and instantly there flashed back upon my mind a vision
of the splendid drawing…room at Ragnall Castle and of an imposing
majordomo introducing into it two white…robed； Arab…looking men。
〃Mr。 Savage； by the Heavens！〃 I muttered。 〃What in the name of
goodness is he doing here？〃
〃There；〃 said the second voice； 〃your black friend has bolted； and no
wonder； for who can be called by such a name？ If you had done what I
told you； Savage； and hired a white guide； it would have saved us a
lot of trouble。 Why will you always think that you know better than
anyone else？〃
〃Seemed an unnecessary expense； my lord； considering we are travelling
incog。； my lord。〃
〃How long shall we travel 'incog。' if you persist in calling me my
lord at the top of your voice； Savage？ There is a house beyond those
trees； go in and ask where〃
By this time I had reached the gate which I opened； remarking quietly；
〃How do you do； Lord Ragnall？ How do you do； Mr。 Savage？ I thought
that I recognized your voices on the road and came to see if I was
right。 Please walk in； that is； if it is I whom you wish to visit。〃
As I spoke I studied them both； and observed that while Savage looked
much the same； although slightly out of place in these strange
surroundings； the time that had passed since we met had changed Lord
Ragnall a good deal。 He was still a magnificent…looking man； one of
those whom no one that had seen him would ever forget； but now his
handsome face was stamped with some new seal of suffering。 I felt at
once that he had become acquainted with grief。 The shadow in his dark
eyes and a certain worn expression about the mouth told me that this
was so。
〃Yes； Quatermain；〃 he said as he took my hand； 〃it is you whom I have
travelled seven thousand miles to visit； and I thank God that I have
been so fortunate as to find you。 I feared lest you might be dead； or
perhaps far away in the centre of Africa where I should never be able
to track you down。〃
〃A week later perhaps you would not have found me； Lord Ragnall；〃 I
answered； 〃but as it happens misfortune has kept me here。〃
〃And misfortune has brought me here； Quatermain。〃
Then before I had time to answer Savage came up and we went into the
house。
〃You are just in time for lunch；〃 I said； 〃and as luck will have it
there is a good rock cod and a leg of oribé buck for you to eat。 Boy；
set two more places。〃
〃One more place； if you please； sir；〃 said Savage。 〃I should prefer to
take my food afterwards。〃
〃You will have to get over that in Africa；〃 I muttered。 Still I let
him have his way； with the result that presently the strange sight was
seen of the magnificent English majordomo standing behind my chair in
the little room and handing round the square…face as though it were
champagne。 It was a spectacle that excited the greatest interest in my
primitive establishment and caused Hans with some native hangers…on to
gather at the window。 However； Lord Ragnall took it as a matter of
course and I thought it better not to interfere。
When we had finished we went on to the stoep to smoke； leaving Savage
to eat his dinner； and I asked Lord Ragnall where his luggage was。 He
replied that he had left it at the Customs。 〃Then；〃 I said； 〃I will
send a native with Savage to arrange