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！
homeward way。〃
〃Yes； you have； O Prophets； or O Liars； whichever you may be；〃 I
exclaimed with pardonable exasperation； for really their knowledge of
my private affairs； however obtained； was enough to anger a saint。 〃So
as you are here at last； come in and have a drink； for whether you are
men or devils； you must be cold out there in the damp。〃
In they came accordingly； and； not being Mohammedans； partook of a tot
of square…face from a bottle which I kept locked in a box to put Hans
beyond the reach of temptation。
〃To your health； Har？t and Mar？t；〃 I said； drinking a little out of
the pannikin and giving the rest to Hans； who gulped the fiery liquor
down with a smack of his lips。 For I will admit that I joined in this
unholy midnight potation to gain time for thought and to steady my
nerve。
〃To your health； O Lord Macumazana；〃 the pair answered as they
swallowed their tots； which I had made pretty stiff； and set down
their pannikins in front of them with as much reverence as though
these had been holy vessels。
〃Now；〃 I said； throwing a blanket over my shoulders； for the air was
chilly； 〃now let us talk；〃 and taking the lantern which Hans had
thoughtfully lighted； I held it up and contemplated them。
There they were； Har？t and Mar？t without doubt； to all appearance
totally unchanged since some years before I had seen them at Ragnall
in England。 〃What are you doing here？〃 I asked in a kind of fiery
indignation inspired by my intense curiosity。 〃How did you get out of
England after you had tried to steal away the lady to whom you sent
the necklace？ What did you do with that lady after you had beguiled
her from the boat at Abu…Simbel？ In the name of your Holy Child； or of
Shaitan of the Mohammedans； or of Set of the Egyptians； answer me；
lest I should make an end of both of you； which I can do here without
any questions being asked；〃 and I whipped out my pistol。
〃Pardon us；〃 said Har？t with a grave smile； 〃but if you were to do as
you say； Lord Macumazana； many questions would be asked which /you/
might find it hard to answer。 So be pleased to put that death…dealer
back into its place； and to tell us before we reply to you； what you
know of Set of the Egyptians。〃
〃As much or as little as you do；〃 I replied。
Both bowed as though this information were of the most satisfactory
order。 Then Har？t went on： 〃In reply to your requests； O Macumazana；
we left England by a steamboat and in due course after long
journeyings we reached our own country。 We do not understand your
allusions to a place called Abu…Simbel on the Nile； whence； never
having been there； we have taken no lady。 Indeed； we never meant to
take that lady to whom we sent a necklace in England。 We only meant to
ask certain questions of her； as she had the gift of vision； when you
appeared and interrupted us。 What should we want with white ladies；
who have already far too many of our own？〃
〃I don't know；〃 I replied； 〃but I do know that you are the biggest
liars I ever met。〃
At these words； which some might have thought insulting； Har？t and
Mar？t bowed again as though to acknowledge a great compliment。 Then
Har？t said：
〃Let us leave the question of ladies and come to matters that have to
do with men。 You are here as we told you that you would be at a time
when you did not believe us； and we here to meet /you/； as we told you
that we would be。 How we knew that you were coming and how we came do
not matter at all。 Believe what you will。 Are you ready to start with
us； O Lord Macumazana； that you may bring to its death the wicked
elephant Jana which ravages our land； and receive the great reward of
ivory？ If so； your camel waits。〃
〃One camel cannot carry four men；〃 I answered； avoiding the question。
〃In courage and skill you are more than many men； O Macumazana； yet in
body you are but one and not four。〃
〃If you think that I am going with you alone； you are much mistaken；
Har？t and Mar？t；〃 I exclaimed。 〃Here with me is my servant without
whom I do not stir；〃 and I pointed to Hans； whom they contemplated
gravely。 〃Also there is the Lord Ragnall； who in this land is named
Igeza； and his servant who here is named Bena； the man out of whom you
drew snakes in the room in England。 They also must accompany us。〃
At this news the impassive countenances of Har？t and Mar？t showed； I
thought； some signs of disturbance。 They muttered together in an
unknown tongue。 Then Har？t said：
〃Our secret land is open to you alone； O Macumazana； for one purpose
onlyto kill the elephant Jana； for which deed we promise you a great
reward。 We do not wish to see the others there。〃
〃Then you can kill your own elephant； Har？t and Mar？t； for not one
step do I go with you。 Why should I when there is as much ivory here
as I want； to be had for the shooting？〃
〃How if we take you； O Macumazana？〃
〃How if I kill you both； O Har？t and Mar？t？ Fools； here are many brave
men at my command； and if you or any with you want fighting it shall
be given you in plenty。 Hans； bid the Mazitu stand to their arms and
summon Igeza and Bena。〃
〃Stay； Lord；〃 said Har？t； 〃and put down that weapon；〃 for once more I
had produced the pistol。 〃We would not begin our fellowship by
shedding blood； though we are safer from you than you think。 Your
companions shall accompany you to the land of the Kendah； but let them
know that they do so at their own risk。 Learn that it is revealed to
us that if they go in there some of them will pass out again as
spirits but not as men。〃
〃Do you mean that you will murder them？〃
〃No。 We mean that yonder are some stronger than us or any men； who
will take their lives in sacrifice。 Not yours； Macumazana； for that；
it is decreed； is safe； but those of two of the others； which two we
do not know。〃
〃Indeed； Har？t and Mar？t； and how am I to be sure that any of us are
safe； or that you do not but trick us to your country； there to kill
us with treachery and steal our goods？〃
〃Because we swear it by the oath that may not be broken； we swear it
by the Heavenly Child；〃 both of them exclaimed solemnly； speaking with
one voice and bowing till their foreheads almost touched the ground。
I shrugged my shoulders and laughed a little。
〃You do not believe us；〃 went on Har？t； 〃who have not heard what
happens to those who break this oath。 Come now and see something。
Within five paces of your hut is a tall ant…heap upon which doubtless
you have been accustomed to stand and overlook the desert。〃 （This was
true； but how did they guess it； I wondered。） 〃Go climb that ant…heap
once more。〃
Perhaps it was rash； but my curiosity led me to accept this
invitation。 Out I went； followed by Hans with a loaded double…
barrelled rifle； and scrambled up the ant…heap which； as it was twenty
feet high and there were no trees just here； commanded a very fine
view of the desert beyond。
〃Look to the north；〃