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！
you that it is best to stay where we are； and trust to God。〃
X
THE MOUNTAIN TOP
If our adventurers； or any of them； hoped that they were going to be
led to the secret places of the fortress that day； they were destined
to disappointment。 Indeed； the remainder of it was employed arduously
enough in unpacking rifles； and a supply of ammunition； also in giving
to a few of the leading Makalanga preliminary lessons in the method of
their use； a matter as to which their ideas were of the vaguest。 The
rest of the tribe； having brought their women and children into the
outer enclosure of the ancient stronghold； and with them their sheep
and goats and the few cattle which remained to them； were employed in
building up the entrance permanently with stones； a zigzag secret path
upon the river side； that could be stopped in a few minutes； being now
their only method of ingress and egress through the thickness of the
walls。 A certain number of men were also sent out as spies to
discover； if possible； the whereabouts of the Matabele impi。
That there was some impi they were almost sure； for a woman who had
followed them reported that the injured captain； Maduna； and his
companion had been met at a distance of about three miles from
Bambatse by a small party of Matabele； who were hiding in some bushes；
and that these men had made litters for them； and carried them away；
whither she did not know； for she had not dared to pursue them
further。
That night Benita passed in the guesthouse； which was only a hut
rather larger than the others； while the two men slept in the waggon
just outside。 She was so tired that for a long while she could not
rest。 Her mind kept flying back to all the events of the day： the
strange words of that mystic old Molimo； concerning herself； the
arrival of the brutal messengers and the indaba that followed； then
the sudden and awful destruction of their spokesman at the hand of
Jacob Meyer。 The scene would not leave her eyes； she saw it again and
yet again： the quick transformation of Meyer's indifferent face when
the soldier began to insult and threaten her； the lightning…like
movement of his hand； the flash； the report； the change from life to
death； and the slayer's cruel laugh。 He could be very terrible； Jacob
Meyer； when his passions were roused！
And what had roused them then？ She could not doubt that it was herself
not mere chivalry towards a woman。 Even if he were capable of
chivalry； merely for that he would never have taken such risk of
future trouble and revenge。 No； it was something deeper。 He had never
said anything or done anything； yet long ago instinct or insight had
caused Benita to suspect the workings of his mind； and now she was
sure of them。 The thought was terribleworse than all her other
dangers put together。 True； she had her father to rely on； but he had
been somewhat ailing of late； age and these arduous journeys and
anxieties had told upon him。 Supposing that anything were to happen to
himif he died； for instance； how dreadful her position might become；
left alone far from the reach of help； with savagesand Jacob Meyer。
Oh！ if it had not been for that dreadful shipwreck； how different
might be her lot to…day！ Well； it was the thought of the shipwreck and
of him whom she had lost therein； which had driven her on to this
adventure； that in it perhaps her suffering mind might be numbed to
rest； and now she must face its issues。 God still remained above her；
and she would put her trust in Him。 After all； if she died； what did
it matter？
But that old Molimo had promised her that she was safe from death；
that she should find here happiness and rest； though not that of the
grave。 He promised this； speaking as one who knew of all her grief；
and a very little while afterwards； in the case of the Matabele
soldier； he had proved himself a prophet of awful power。 Alsoshe
knew not how； she knew not whynow； as before； her inmost heart
seemed to bear witness that this old dreamer's words were true； and
that for her； in some strange manner unforeseen； there still remained
a rest。
Comforted a little by this intuition； at length Benita fell asleep。
Next morning； when she came out of the hut； Benita was met by her
father； who with a cheerful countenance informed her that at any rate
as yet there was no sign of the Matabele。 A few hours later； too； some
spies came in who said that for miles round nothing could be seen or
heard of them。 Still the preparations for defence went on； and the
hundred best men having been furnished with the rifles； were being
drilled in the use of them by Tamas and his two companions； Tamala and
Hoba； who had learned how to handle a gun very well in the course of
their long journey。 The shooting of these raw recruits； however；
proved to be execrable； indeed； so dangerous were they that when one
of them fired at a mark set upon the wall； it was found necessary to
order all the rest to lie down。 As it was； a poor trek oxluckily it
was sickand two sheep were killed。
Foreseeing a scarcity of provisions in the event of a siege； Meyer；
provident as ever； had already decreed the death of the tetse…bitten
cattle。 These were accordingly despatched； and having been skinned and
cut up； their flesh was severed into long strips to be dried in the
burning sun as biltong； which secretly Benita hoped she might never be
called upon to eat。 Yet the time was to come when she would swallow
that hard； tetse…poisoned flesh with thankfulness。
At midday； after they had eaten； Mr。 Clifford and Meyer went to the
Molimo； where he sat against the second wall； and； pointing to the men
with the guns； said：
〃We have fulfilled our bargain。 Now fulfil yours。 Lead us to the holy
place that we may begin our search。〃
〃So be it；〃 he answered。 〃Follow me； white people。〃
Then； quite unattended； he guided them round the inner wall till they
came to a path of rock not more than a yard wide； beneath which was a
precipice fifty feet or so in depth that almost overhung the river。
This giddy path they followed for about twenty paces； to find that it
ended in a cleft in the wall so narrow that only one person could walk
through it at a time。 That it must have been the approach to the
second stronghold was evident； however； since it was faced on either
side with dressed stones； and even the foundation granite had been
worn by the human feet which had passed here for ages upon ages。 This
path zigzagged to and fro in the thickness of the wall till it brought
them finally within its circle； a broad belt of steeply…rising ground；
covered like that below with the tumbled ruins of buildings amidst
which grew bush and trees。
〃Heaven send that the gold is not buried here；〃 said Mr。 Clifford；
surveying the scene； 〃for if it is； we shall never find it。〃
The Molimo seemed to guess the meaning of his words from his face； for
he answered：
〃I think not