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！
Again； we might advance by whatever road we selected with a small army
of drilled and disciplined retainers； trusting to force to break a way
through to the Kendah。 Or we might go practically unaccompanied；
relying on our native wit and good fortune to attain our ends。 Each of
these alternatives had so much to recommend it and yet presented so
many difficulties； that after long hours of discussion； for this talk
was renewed again and again； I found it quite impossible to decide
upon any one of them； especially as in the end Lord Ragnall always
left the choice with its heavy responsibilities to me。
At length in despair I opened the window and whistled twice on a
certain low note。 A minute later Hans shuffled in； shaking the wet off
the new corduroy clothes which he had bought upon the strength of his
return to affluence； for it was raining outside； and squatted himself
down upon the floor at a little distance。 In the shadow of the table
which cut off the light from the hanging lamp he looked； I remember；
exactly like an enormous and antique toad。 I threw him a piece of
tobacco which he thrust into his corn…cob pipe and lit with a match。
〃The Baas called me；〃 he said when it was drawing to his satisfaction；
〃what does Baas want of Hans？〃
〃Light in darkness！〃 I replied； playing on his native name； and
proceeded to set out the whole case to him。
He listened without a word； then asked for a small glass of gin； which
I gave him doubtfully。 Having swallowed this at a gulp as though it
were water； he delivered himself briefly to this effect：
〃I think the Baas will do well not to go to Kilwa； since it means
waiting for a ship； or hiring one； also there may be more slave…
traders there by now who will bear him no love because of a lesson he
taught them a while ago。 On the other hand the road through Zululand
is open； though it be long； and there the name of Macumazana is one
well known。 I think also that the Baas would do well not to take too
many men； who make marching slow； only a wagon or two and some drivers
which might be sent back when they can go no farther。 From Zululand
messengers can be dispatched to the Mazitu； who love you； and Bausi or
whoever is king there to…day will order bearers to meet us on the
road； until which time we can hire other bearers in Zululand。 The old
woman at Beza…Town told me； moreover； as you will remember； that the
Kendah are a very great people who live by themselves and will allow
none to enter their land； which is bordered by deserts。 Therefore no
force that you could take with you and feed upon a road without water
would be strong enough to knock down their gates like an elephant； and
it seems better that you should try to creep through them like a wise
snake； although they appear to be shut in your face。 Perhaps also they
will not be shut since did you not say that two of their great doctors
promised to meet you and guide you through them？〃
〃Yes；〃 I interrupted； 〃I dare say it will be easier to get in than to
get out of Kendahland。〃
〃Last of all； Baas； if you take many men armed with guns； the black
part of the Kendah people of whom I told you will perhaps think you
come to make war； whatever the white Kendah may say； and kill us all；
whereas if we be but a few perchance they will let us pass in peace。 I
think that is all； Baas。 Let the Baas and the Lord Igeza forgive me if
my words are foolish。〃
Here I should explain that 〃Igeza〃 was the name which the natives had
given to Lord Ragnall because of his appearance。 The word means a
handsome person in the Zulu tongue。 Savage they called 〃Bena；〃 I don't
know why。 〃Bena〃 in Zulu means to push out the breast and it may be
that the name was a round…about allusion to the proud appearance of
the dignified Savage； or possibly it had some other recondite
signification。 At any rate Lord Ragnall； Hans and myself knew the
splendid Savage thenceforward by the homely appellation of Beans。 His
master said it suited him very well because he was so green。
〃The advice seems wise； Hans。 Go now。 No； no more gin；〃 I answered。
As a matter of fact careful consideration convinced us it was so wise
that we acted on it down to the last detail。
So it came about that one fine afternoon about a fortnight later； for
hurry as we would our preparations took a little time； we trekked for
Zululand over the sandy roads that ran from the outskirts of Durban。
Our baggage and stores were stowed in two half…tented wagons； very
good wagons since everything we had with us was the best that money
could buy； the after…part of which served us as sleeping…places at
night。 Hans sat on the /voor…kisse/ or driving…seat of one of the
wagons； Lord Ragnall； Savage and I were mounted upon 〃salted〃 horses；
that is； horses which had recovered from and were therefore supposed
to be proof against the dreadful sickness； valuable and docile animals
which were trained to shooting。
At our start a little contretemps occurred。 To my amazement I saw
Savage； who insisted upon continuing to wear his funereal upper
servant's cut…away coat； engaged with grim determination in mounting
his steed from the wrong side。 He got into the saddle somehow； but
there was worse to follow。 The horse； astonished at such treatment；
bolted a little way； Savage sawing at its mouth。 Lord Ragnall and I
cantered after it past the wagons； fearing disaster。 All of a sudden
it swerved violently and Savage flew into the air； landing heavily in
a sitting posture。
〃Poor Beans！〃 ejaculated Lord Ragnall as we sped forward。 〃I expect
there is an end of his journeyings。〃
To our surprise； however； we saw him leap from the ground with the
most marvellous agility and begin to dance about slapping at his
posterior parts and shouting；
〃Take it off！ Kill it！〃
A few seconds later we discovered the reason。 The horse had shied at a
sleeping puff adder which was curled up in the sand of that little
frequented road； and on this puff adder Savage had descended with so
much force； for he weighed thirteen stone； that the creature was
squashed quite flat and never stirred again。 This； however； he did not
notice in his agitation； being convinced indeed that it was hanging to
him behind like a bulldog。
〃Snakes！ my lord；〃 he exclaimed； when at last after careful search we
demonstrated to him that the adder had died before it could come into
action。
〃I hate 'em； my lord； and they haunts〃 （he said 'aunts） 〃me。 If ever I
get out of this I'll go and live in Ireland； my lord； where they say
there ain't none。 But it isn't likely that I shall；〃 he added
mournfully； 〃for the omen is horrid。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 I answered； 〃it is splendid； for you have killed
the snake and not the snake you。 'The dog it was that died；' Savage。〃
After this the Kafirs gave Savage a second very long name which meant
〃He…who…sits…down…on…snakes…and…makes…them…flat。〃 Having remounted him
on