PREFACE
Itmaybewelltostatethattheincidentofthe\"Thingthatbites\"recordedinthistaleisnotaneffortoftheimagination。
Onthecontrary,itis\"plagiarized。\"Mandara,awell—knownchiefontheeastcoastofAfrica,hassuchanarticle,/andusesit/。
InthesamewaythewickedconductattributedtoWambeisnotwithoutaprecedent。T’Chaka,theZuluNapoleon,neverallowedachildofhistolive。Indeedhewentfurther,forondiscoveringthathismother,Unandi,wasbringinguponeofhissonsinsecret,likeNerohekilledher,andwithhisownhand。
MAIWA’SREVENGE
I
GOBOSTRIKES
Oneday——itwasaboutaweekafterAllanQuatermaintoldmehisstoryofthe\"ThreeLions,\"andofthemovingdeathofJim—Jim——heandI
werewalkinghometogetherontheterminationofaday’sshooting。HeownedabouttwothousandacresofshootingroundtheplacehehadboughtinYorkshire,overahundredofwhichwerewood。Itwasthesecondyearofhisoccupationoftheestate,andalreadyhehadrearedaveryfairheadofpheasants,forhewasanall—roundsportsman,andasfondofshootingwithashot—gunaswithaneight—borerifle。Wewerethreegunsthatday,SirHenryCurtis,OldQuatermain,andmyself;butSirHenrywasobligedtoleaveinthemiddleoftheafternooninordertomeethisagent,andinspectanoutlyingfarmwhereanewshedwaswanted。However,hewascomingbacktodinner,andgoingtobringCaptainGoodwithhim,forBrayleyHallwasnotmorethantwomilesfromtheGrange。
Wehadmetwithveryfairsport,consideringthatwewereonlygoingthroughoutlyingcoverforcocks。Ithinkthatwehadkilledtwenty—
seven,awoodcockandaleashofpartridgeswhichwesecuredoutofadrivencovey。Onourwayhometherelayalongnarrowspinney,whichwasaveryfavourite\"lie\"forwoodcocks,andgenerallyheldapheasantortwoaswell。
\"Well,whatdoyousay?\"saidoldQuatermain,\"shallwebeatthroughthisforafinish?\"
Iassented,andhecalledtothekeeperwhowasfollowingwithalittleknotofbeaters,andtoldhimtobeatthespinney。
\"Verywell,sir,\"answeredtheman,\"butit’sgettingwonderfuldark,andthewind’srisingagale。Itwilltakeyouallyourtimetohitawoodcockifthespinneyholdsone。\"
\"Youshowusthewoodcocks,Jeffries,\"answeredQuatermainquickly,forheneverlikedbeingcrossedinanythingtodowithsport,\"andwewilllookaftershootingthem。\"
Themanturnedandwentrathersulkily。Iheardhimsaytotheunder—
keeper,\"He’sprettygood,themasteris,I’mnotsayingheisn’t,butifhekillsawoodcockinthislightandwind,I’maDutchman。\"
IthinkthatQuatermainheardhimtoo,thoughhesaidnothing。Thewindwasrisingeveryminute,andbythetimethebeatbegunitblewbigguns。Istoodattheright—handcornerofthespinney,whichcurvedroundsomewhat,andQuatermainstoodattheleft,aboutfortypacesfromme。Presentlyanoldcockpheasantcamerocketingoverme,lookingasthoughthefeatherswerebeingblownoutofhistail。I
missedhimcleanwiththefirstbarrel,andwasnevermorepleasedwithmyselfinmylifethanwhenIdoubledhimupwiththesecond,fortheshotwasnotaneasyone。InthefaintlightIcouldseeQuatermainnoddinghisheadinapproval,whenthroughthegroaningofthetreesIheardtheshoutsofthebeaters,\"Cockforward,cocktotheright。\"Thencameawholevolleyofshouts,\"Woodcocktotheright,\"\"Cocktotheleft,\"\"Cockover。\"
Ilookedup,andpresentlycaughtsightofoneofthewoodcockscomingdownthewinduponmelikeaflash。InthatdimlightIcouldnotfollowallhismovementsashezigzaggedthroughthenakedtree—tops;
indeedIcouldseehimwhenhiswingsflittedup。Nowhewaspassingme——/bang/,andaflickofthewing,Ihadmissedhim;/bang/again。
Surelyhewasdown;no,therehewenttomyleft。
\"Cocktoyou,\"Ishouted,steppingforwardsoastogetQuatermainbetweenmeandthefaintangrylightofthedyingday,forIwantedtoseeifhewould\"wipemyeye。\"Iknewhimtobeawonderfulshot,butIthoughtthatcockwouldpuzzlehim。
Isawhimraisehisguneversolittleandbendforward,andatthatmomentoutflashedtwowoodcocksintotheopen,theoneIhadmissedtohisright,andtheothertohisleft。
Atthesametimeafreshshoutaroseof,\"Woodcockover,\"andlookingdownthespinneyIsawathirdbirdhighupintheair,beingblownalonglikeabrownandwhirlingleafstraightoverQuatermain’shead。
AndthenfollowedtheprettiestlittlebitofshootingthatIeversaw。Thebirdtotherightwasflyinglow,nottenyardsfromthelineofahedgerow,andQuatermaintookhimfirstbecausehewouldbecomeinvisiblethesoonestofany。Indeed,nobodywhohadnothishawk’seyescouldhaveseentoshootatall。Buthesawthebirdwellenoughtokillitdeadasastone。Thenturningsharply,hepulledonthesecondbirdataboutforty—fiveyards,andoverhewent。Bythistimethethirdwoodcockwasnearlyoverhim,andflyingveryhigh,straightdownthewind,ahundredfeetupormore,Ishouldsay。Isawhimglanceatitasheopenedhisgun,threwouttherightcartridgeandslippedinanother,turningroundashedidso。Bythistimethecockwasnearlyfiftyyardsawayfromhim,andtravellinglikeaflash。
Liftinghisgunhefiredafterit,and,wonderfulastheshotwas,killeditdead。Atearinggustofwindcaughtthedeadbird,andblewitawaylikealeaftornfromanoak,sothatitfellahundredandthirtyyardsofformore。
\"Isay,Quatermain,\"Isaidtohimwhenthebeaterswereup,\"doyouoftendothissortofthing?\"
\"Well,\"heanswered,withadrysmile,\"thelasttimeIhadtoloadthreeshotsasquicklyasthatwasatratherlargergame。Itwasatelephants。IkilledthemallthreeasdeadasIkilledthosewoodcocks;butitverynearlywenttheotherway,Icantellyou;I
meanthattheyverynearlykilledme。\"
Justatthatmomentthekeepercameup,\"Didyouhappentogetoneofthemtherecocks,sir?\"hesaid,withtheairofamanwhodidnotintheleastexpectananswerintheaffirmative。
\"Well,yes,Jeffries,\"answeredQuatermain;\"youwillfindoneofthembythehedge,andanotheraboutfiftyyardsoutbytheploughtheretotheleft————\"
Thekeeperhadturnedtogo,lookingalittleastonished,whenQuatermaincalledhimback。
\"Stopabit,Jeffries,\"hesaid。\"Youseethatpollardaboutonehundredandfortyyardsoff?Well,thereshouldbeanotherwoodcockdowninalinewithit,aboutsixtypacesoutinthefield。\"
\"Well,ifthatbean’ttheverysmartestbitofshooting,\"murmuredJeffries,anddeparted。
Afterthatwewenthome,andinduecourseSirHenryCurtisandCaptainGoodarrivedfordinner,thelatterarrayedinthetightestandmostornamentaldress—suitIeversaw。Irememberthatthewaistcoatwasadornedwithfivepinkcoralbuttons。
Itwasaverypleasantdinner。OldQuatermainwasinanexcellenthumour;induced,Ithink,bytherecollectionofhistriumphoverthedoubtingJeffries。Good,too,wasfullofanecdotes。HetoldusamostmiraculousstoryofhowheoncewentshootingibexinKashmir。Theseibex,accordingtoGood,hestalkedearlyandlateforfourentiredays。Atlastonthemorningofthefifthdayhesucceededingettingwithinrangeoftheflock,whichconsistedofamagnificentoldramwithhornssolongthatIamafraidtomentiontheirmeasure,andfiveorsixfemales。Goodcrawleduponhisstomach,painfullytakingshelterbehindrocks,tillhewaswithintwohundredyards;thenhedrewafinebeadupontheoldram。Atthismoment,however,adiversionoccurred。Somewanderingnativeofthehillsappeareduponadistantmountaintop。Thefemalesturned,andrushingoverarockvanishedfromGood’sken。Buttheoldramtookaboldercourse。Infrontofhimstretchedamightycrevasseatleastthirtyfeetinwidth。Hewentatitwithabound。Whilsthewasinmid—airGoodfired,andkilledhimdead。Theramturnedacompletesomersaultinspace,andfellinsuchfashionthathishornshookedthemselvesuponabigprojectionoftheoppositecliffs。Therehehung,tillGood,afteralongandpainfuldétour,gracefullydroppedalassooverhimandfishedhimup。
Thismovingtaleofwildadventurewasreceivedwithundeservedincredulity。
\"Well,\"saidGood,\"ifyoufellowswon’tbelievemystorywhenItellit——aperfectlytruestorymind——perhapsoneofyouwillgiveusabetter;I’mnotparticularifitistrueornot。\"Andhelapsedintoadignifiedsilence。
\"Now,Quatermain,\"Isaid,\"don’tletGoodbeatyou,letushearhowyoukilledthoseelephantsyouweretalkingaboutthiseveningjustafteryoushotthewoodcocks。\"
\"Well,\"saidQuatermain,dryly,andwithsomethinglikeatwinkleinhisbrowneyes,\"itisveryhardfortuneforamantohavetofollowonGood’s\"spoor。\"Indeedifitwerenotforthatrunninggiraffewhich,asyouwillremember,Curtis,wesawGoodbowloverwithaMartinirifleatthreehundredyards,Ishouldalmosthavesaidthatthiswasanimpossibletale。\"
HereGoodlookedupwithanairofindignantinnocence。
\"However,\"hewenton,risingandlightinghispipe,\"ifyoufellowslike,Iwillspinyouayarn。Iwastellingoneofyoutheothernightaboutthosethreelionsandhowthelionessfinishedmyunfortunate’voorlooper,’Jim—Jim,theboywhomweburiedinthebread—bag。
\"Well,afterthislittleexperienceIthoughtthatIwouldsettledownabit,soIentereduponaventurewithamanwho,beingofaspeculativemind,hadconceivedtheideaofrunningastoreatPretoriauponstrictlycashprinciples。ThearrangementwasthatI
shouldfindthecapitalandhetheexperience。Ourpartnershipwasnotofalongduration。TheBoersrefusedtopaycash,andattheendoffourmonthsmypartnerhadthecapitalandIhadtheexperience。AfterthisIcametotheconclusionthatstore—keepingwasnotinmyline,andhavingfourhundredpoundsleft,IsentmyboyHarrytoaschoolinNatal,andbuyinganoutfitwithwhatremainedofthemoney,starteduponabigtrip。
\"ThistimeIdeterminedtogofurtherafieldthanIhadeverbeenbefore;soItookapassageforafewpoundsinatradingbrigthatranbetweenDurbanandDelagoaBay。FromDelagoaBayImarchedinlandaccompaniedbytwentyporters,withtheideaofstrikingupnorth,towardstheLimpopo,andkeepingparalleltothecoast,butatadistanceofaboutonehundredandfiftymilesfromit。Forthefirsttwentydaysofourjourneywesufferedagooddealfromfever,thatis,mymendid,forIthinkthatIamfeverproof。AlsoIwashardputtoittokeepthecampinmeat,foralthoughthecountryprovedtobeverysparselypopulated,therewasbutlittlegameabout。Indeed,duringallthattimeIhardlykilledanythinglargerthanawaterbuck,and,asyouknow,waterbuck’sfleshisnotveryappetisingfood。Onthetwentiethday,however,wecametothebanksofalargishriver,theGonoorooitwascalled。ThisIcrossed,andthenstruckinlandtowardsagreatrangeofmountains,thebluecrestsofwhichwecouldseelyingonthedistantheavenslikeashadow,acontinuation,asI
believe,oftheDrakensbergrangethatskirtsthecoastofNatal。Fromthismainrangeagreatspurshootsoutsomefiftymilesorsotowardsthecoast,endingabruptlyinonetremendouspeak。ThisspurI
discoveredseparatedtheterritoriesoftwochiefsnamedNalaandWambe,Wambe’sterritorybeingtothenorth,andNala’stothesouth。
NalaruledatribeofbastardZuluscalledtheButiana,andWambeamuchlargertribe,calledtheMatuku,whichpresentsmarkedBantucharacteristics。Forinstance,theyhavedoorsandverandahstotheirhuts,workskinsperfectly,andwearawaistclothandnotamoocha。AtthistimetheButianaweremoreorlesssubjecttotheMatuku,havingbeensurprisedbythemsometwentyyearsbeforeandmercilesslyslaughtereddown。Thetribewasnowrecoveringitself,however,andasyoumayimagine,itdidnotlovetheMatuku。
\"Well,IheardasIwentalongthatelephantswereveryplentifulinthedenseforestswhichlieupontheslopesandatthefootofthemountainsthatborderWambe’sterritory。AlsoIheardaveryillreportofthatworthyhimself,wholivedinakraaluponthesideofthemountain,whichwassostronglyfortifiedastobepracticallyimpregnable。ItwassaidthathewasthemostcruelchiefinthispartofAfrica,andthathehadmurderedincoldbloodanentirepartyofEnglishgentlemen,who,somesevenyearsbefore,hadgoneintohiscountrytohuntelephants。Theytookanoldfriendofminewiththemasguide,JohnEverybyname,andoftenhadImournedoverhisuntimelydeath。Allthesame,WambeornoWambe,Ideterminedtohuntelephantsinhiscountry。Ineverwasafraidofnatives,andIwasnotgoingtoshowthewhitefeathernow。Iamabitofafatalist,asyoufellowsknow,soIcametotheconclusionthatifitwasfatedthatWambeshouldsendmetojoinmyoldfriendJohnEvery,Ishouldhavetogo,andtherewasanendofit。Meanwhile,Imeanttohuntelephantswithapeacefulheart。
\"Onthethirddayfromthedateofoursightingthegreatpeak,wefoundourselvesbeneathitsshadow。Stillfollowingthecourseoftheriverwhichwoundthroughtheforestsatthebaseofthepeak,weenteredtheterritoryoftheredoubtableWambe。This,however,wasnotaccomplishedwithoutacertaindifferenceofopinionbetweenmybearersandmyself,forwhenwereachedthespotwhereWambe’sboundarywassupposedtorun,thebearerssatdownandemphaticallyrefusedtogoastepfurther。Isatdowntoo,andarguedwiththem,puttingmyfatalisticviewsbeforethemaswellasIwasable。ButI
couldnotpersuadethemtolookatthematterinthesamelight。’Atpresent,’theysaid,’theirskinswerewhole;iftheywentintoWambe’scountrywithouthisleavetheywouldsoonbelikeawater—
eatenleaf。ItwasverywellformetosaythatthiswouldbeFate。
FatenodoubtmightbewalkingaboutinWambe’scountry,butwhiletheystoppedoutsidetheywouldnotmeethim。’
\"’Well,’IsaidtoGobo,myheadman,’andwhatdoyoumeantodo?’
\"’Wemeantogobacktothecoast,Macumazahn,’heansweredinsolently。
\"’Doyou?’Ireplied,formybilewasstirred。’Atanyrate,Mr。Gobo,youandoneortwootherswillnevergetthere;seehere,myfriend,’
andItookarepeatingrifleandsatmyselfcomfortablydown,restingmybackagainstatree——’Ihavejustbreakfasted,andIhadassoonspendthedayhereasanywhereelse。Nowifyouoranyofthosemenwalkonestepbackfromhere,andtowardsthecoast,Ishallfireatyou;andyouknowthatIdon’tmiss。’
\"Themanfingeredthespearhewascarrying——luckilyallmygunswerestackedagainstthetree——andthenturnedasthoughtowalkaway,theotherskeepingtheireyesfixeduponhimallthewhile。Iroseandcoveredhimwiththerifle,andthoughhekeptupabraveappearanceofunconcern,Isawthathewasglancingnervouslyatmeallthetime。
WhenhehadgoneabouttwentyyardsIspokeveryquietly——
\"’Now,Gobo,’Isaid,’comeback,orIshallfire。’
\"Ofcoursethiswastakingaveryhighhand;IhadnorealrighttokillGobooranybodyelsebecausetheyobjectedtoruntheriskofdeathbyenteringtheterritoryofahostilechief。ButIfeltthatifIwishedtokeepupanyauthorityitwasabsolutelynecessarythatI
shouldpushmatterstothelastextremityshortofactuallyshootinghim。SoIsatthere,lookingfierceasalion,andkeepingthesightofmyrifleinadeadlineforGobo’sribs。ThenGobo,feelingthatthesituationwasgettingstrained,gavein。
\"’Don’tshoot,Boss,’heshouted,throwinguphishand,’Iwillcomewithyou。’
\"’Ithoughtyouwould,’Iansweredquietly;’youseeFatewalksaboutoutsideWambe’scountryaswellasinit。’
\"AfterthatIhadnomoretrouble,forGobowastheringleader,andwhenhecollapsedtheotherscollapsedalso。Harmonybeingthusrestored,wecrossedtheline,andonthefollowingmorningIbeganshootingingoodearnest。
II
AMORNING’SSPORT
\"MovingsomefiveorsixmilesroundthebaseofthegreatpeakofwhichIhavespoken,wecamethesamedaytooneofthefairestbitsofAfricancountrythatIhaveseenoutsideofKukuanaland。Atthisspotthemountainspurthatrunsoutatrightanglestothegreatrange,whichstretchesitscloud—cladlengthnorthandsouthasfarastheeyecanreach,sweepsinwardswithavastandsplendidcurve。Thiscurvemeasuressomefive—and—thirtymilesfrompointtopoint,andacrossitsmoon—likesegmenttheriverflashed,asilverlineoflight。Onthefurthersideoftheriverisameasurelessseaofswellingground,anaturalparkcoveredwithgreatpatchesofbush——
someofthembeingmanysquaremilesinextent。Theseareseparatedonefromanotherbygladesofgrassland,brokenhereandtherewithclumpsoftimbertrees;andinsomeinstancesbycuriousisolatedkoppies,andevenbysinglecragsofgranitethatstartupintotheairasthoughtheyweremonumentscarvedbyman,andnottombstonessetbynatureoverthegraveofagesgone。Onthewestthisbeautifulplainisborderedbythelonelymountain,fromtheedgeofwhichitrollsdowntowardthefevercoast;buthowfaritrunstothenorthI
cannotsay——eightdays’journey,accordingtothenatives,whenitislostinanuntravelledmorass。
\"Onthehithersideoftheriverthesceneryisdifferent。Alongtheedgeofitsbanks,wherethelandisflat,aregreenpatchesofswamp。
Thencomesawidebeltofbeautifulgrasslandcoveredthicklywithgame,andslopingupverygentlytothebordersoftheforest,which,beginningataboutathousandfeetabovetheleveloftheplain,clothesthemountain—sidealmosttoitscrest。Inthisforestgrowgreattrees,mostofthemoftheyellow—woodspecies。Someofthesetreesaresolofty,thatabirdintheirtopbrancheswouldbeoutofrangeofanordinaryshotgun。Anotherpeculiarthingaboutthemis,thattheyareforthemostpartcoveredwithadensegrowthoftheOrchillamoss;andfromthismossthenativesmanufactureamostexcellentdeeppurpledye,withwhichtheystaintannedhidesandalsocloth,whentheyhappentogetanyofthelatter。IdonotthinkthatIeversawanythingmoreremarkablethantheappearanceofoneofthesemightytreesfestoonedfromtoptobottomwithtrailingwreathsofthissad—huedmoss,inwhichthewindwhispersgentlyasitstirsthem。AtadistanceitlookslikethegraylocksofaTitancrownedwithbrightgreenleaves,andhereandtherestarredwiththerichbloomoforchids。
\"ThenightofthatdayonwhichIhadmylittledifferenceofopinionwithGobo,wecampedbytheedgeofthisgreatforest,andonthefollowingmorningatdaylightIstartedoutshooting。AswewereshortofmeatIdeterminedtokillabuffalo,ofwhichtherewereplentyabout,beforelookingfortracesofelephants。Notmorethanhalfamilefromcampwecameacrossatrailbroadasacart—road,evidentlymadebyagreatherdofbuffaloeswhichhadpassedupatdawnfromtheirfeedinggroundinthemarshes,tospendthedayinthecoolairoftheuplands。ThistrailIfollowedboldly;forsuchwindastherewasblewstraightdownthemountain—side,thatis,fromthedirectioninwhichthebuffaloeshadgone,tome。Aboutamilefurtherontheforestbegantobedense,andthenatureofthetrailshowedmethatI
mustbeclosetomygame。Anothertwohundredyardsandthebushwassothickthat,haditnotbeenforthetrail,wecouldscarcelyhavepassedthroughit。Asitwas,Gobo,whocarriedmyeight—borerifle(forIhadthe。570—expressinmyhand),andtheothertwomenwhomI
hadtakenwithme,showedtheverystrongestdisliketogoinganyfurther,pointingoutthattherewas’noroomtorunaway。’Itoldthemthattheyneednotcomeunlesstheyliked,butthatIwascertainlygoingon;andthen,growingashamed,theycame。
\"Anotherfiftyyards,andthetrailopenedintoalittleglade。I
kneltdownandpeepedandpeered,butnobuffalocouldIsee。
Evidentlytheherdhadbrokenuphere——Iknewthatfromthespoor——andpenetratedtheoppositebushinlittletroops。Icrossedtheglade,andchoosingonelineofspoor,followeditforsomesixtyyards,whenitbecamecleartomethatIwassurroundedbybuffaloes;andyetsodensewasthecoverthatIcouldnotseeany。AfewyardstomyleftI
couldhearonerubbingitshornsagainstatree,whilefrommyrightcameanoccasionallowandthroatygruntwhichtoldmethatIwasuncomfortablynearanoldbull。Icreptontowardshimwithmyheartinmymouth,asgentlyasthoughIwerewalkinguponeggsforabet,liftingeverylittlebitofwoodinmypath,andplacingitbehindmelestitshouldcrackandwarnthegame。Aftermeinsinglefilecamemythreeretainers,andIdon’tknowwhichofthemlookedthemostfrightened。PresentlyGobotouchedmyleg;Iglancedround,andsawhimpointingslantwisetowardstheleft。Iliftedmyheadalittleandpeepedoveramassofcreepers;beyondthecreeperswasadensebushofsharp—pointedaloes,ofthatkindofwhichtheleavesprojectlaterally,andontheothersideofthealoes,notfifteenpacesfromus,Imadeoutthehorns,neck,andtheridgeofthebackofatremendousoldbull。Itookmyeight—bore,andgettingontomykneepreparedtoshoothimthroughtheneck,takingmychanceofcuttinghisspine。Ihadalreadycoveredhimaswellasthealoeleaveswouldallow,whenhegaveakindofsighandlaydown。
\"Ilookedroundindismay。Whatwastobedonenow?Icouldnotseetoshoothimlyingdown,evenifmybulletwouldhavepiercedtheinterveningaloes——whichwasdoubtful——andifIstooduphewouldeitherrunawayorchargeme。Ireflected,andcametotheconclusionthattheonlythingtodowastoliedownalso;forIdidnotfancywanderingafterotherbuffaloesinthatdensebush。Ifabuffaloliesdown,itisclearthathemustgetupagainsometime,soitwasonlyacaseofpatience——’fightingthefightofsitdown,’astheZulussay。
\"AccordinglyIsatdownandlightedapipe,thinkingthatthesmellofitmightreachthebuffaloandmakehimgetup。Butthewindwasthewrongway,anditdidnot;sowhenitwasdoneIlitanother。
AfterwardsIhadcausetoregretthatpipe。
\"Well,wesquattedlikethisforbetweenhalfandthreequartersofanhour,tillatlengthIbegantogrowheartilysickoftheperformance。
Itwasaboutasdullabusinessasthelasthourofacomicopera。I
couldhearbuffaloessnortingandmovingallround,andseethered—
beakedticbirdsflyingupofftheirbacks,makingakindofhissastheydidso,somethinglikethatoftheEnglishmissel—thrush,butI
couldnotseeasinglebuffalo。Asformyoldbull,Ithinkhemusthavesleptthesleepofthejust,forheneverevenstirred。
\"JustasIwasmakingupmymindthatsomethingmustbedonetosavethesituation,myattentionwasattractedbyacuriousgrindingnoise。
AtfirstIthoughtthatitmustbeabuffalochewingthecud,butwasobligedtoabandontheideabecausethenoisewastooloud。Ishiftedmyselfroundandstaredthroughthecracksinthebush,inthedirectionwhencethesoundseemedtocome,andonceIthoughtthatI
sawsomethinggraymovingaboutfiftyyardsoff,butcouldnotmakecertain。AlthoughthegrindingnoisestillcontinuedIcouldseenothingmore,soIgaveupthinkingaboutit,andonceagainturnedmyattentiontothebuffalo。Presently,however,somethinghappened。
Suddenlyfromaboutfortyyardsawaytherecameatremendoussnortingsound,morelikethatmadebyanenginegettingaheavytrainunderweighthananythingelseintheworld。
\"’ByJove,’Ithought,turningroundinthedirectionfromwhichthegrindingsoundhadcome,’thatmustbearhinoceros,andhehasgotourwind。’For,asyoufellowsknow,thereisnomistakingthesoundmadebyarhinoceroswhenhegetswindofyou。
\"Anothersecond,andIheardamosttremendouscrashingnoise。BeforeIcouldthinkwhattodo,beforeIcouldevengetup,thebushbehindmeseemedtoburstasunder,andthereappearednoteightyardsfromus,thegreathornandwickedtwinklingeyeofachargingrhinoceros。
Hehadwindedusormypipe,Idonotknowwhich,and,afterthefashionofthesebrutes,hadchargedupthescent。Icouldnotrise,I
couldnotevengetthegunup,Ihadnotime。AllthatIwasabletodowastorolloverasfaroutofthemonster’spathasthebushwouldallow。Anothersecondandhewasoverme,hisgreatbulktoweringabovemelikeamountain,and,uponmyword,Icouldnotgethissmelloutofmynostrilsforaweek。Circumstancesimpresseditonmymemory,atleastIsupposeso。Hishotbreathblewuponmyface,oneofhisfrontfeetjustmissedmyhead,andhishindoneactuallytrodupontheloosepartofmytrousersandpinchedalittlebitofmyskin。IsawhimpassovermelyingasIwasuponmyback,andnextsecondIsawsomethingelse。Mymenwerealittlebehindme,andthereforestraightinthepathoftherhinoceros。Oneofthemflunghimselfbackwardsintothebush,andthusavoidedhim。Thesecondwithawildyellsprungtohisfeet,andboundedlikeanindia—rubberballrightintothealoebush,landingwellamongthespikes。Butthethird,itwasmyfriendGobo,couldnotbyanymeansgetaway。Hemanagedtogainhisfeet,andthatwasall。Therhinoceroswaschargingwithhisheadlow;hishornpassedbetweenGobo’slegs,andfeelingsomethingonhisnose,hejerkeditup。AwaywentGobo,highintotheair。Heturnedacompletesomersaultattheapexofthecurve,andashedidso,Icaughtsightofhisface。Itwasgraywithterror,andhismouthwaswideopen。Downhecame,rightontothegreatbrute’sback,andthatbrokehisfall。Luckilyforhimtherhinocerosneverturned,butcrashedstraightthroughthealoebush,onlymissingthemanwhohadjumpedintoitbyaboutayard。
\"Thenfollowedacomplication。Thesleepingbuffaloonthefurthersideofthebush,hearingthenoise,sprangtohisfeet,andforasecond,notknowingwhattodo,stoodstill。Atthatinstantthehugerhinocerosblunderedrightontohim,andgettinghishornbeneathhisstomachgavehimsuchafearfuldigthatthebuffalowasturnedoverontohisback,whilehisassailantwentamostamazingcropperoverhiscarcase。Inanothermoment,however,therhinoceroswasup,andwheelingroundtotheleft,crashedthroughthebushdown—hillandtowardstheopencountry。
\"Instantlythewholeplacebecamealivewithalarmingsounds。Ineverydirectiontroopsofsnortingbuffaloeschargedthroughtheforest,wildwithfright,whiletheinjuredbullonthefurthersideofthebushbegantobellowlikeamadthing。Ilayquitestillforamoment,devoutlyprayingthatnoneoftheflyingbuffaloeswouldcomemyway。
ThenwhenthedangerlessenedIgotontomyfeet,shookmyself,andlookedround。Oneofmyboys,hewhohadthrownhimselfbackwardintothebush,wasalreadyhalfwayupatree——ifheavenhadbeenatthetopofithecouldnothaveclimbedquicker。Gobowaslyingclosetome,groaningvigorously,but,asIsuspected,quiteunhurt;whilefromthealoebushintowhichNo。3hadboundedlikeatennisball,issuedasuccessionofthemostpiercingyells。
\"Ilooked,andsawthatthisunfortunatefellowwasinaverytightplace。Agreatspikeofaloehadrunthroughthebackofhisskinwaist—belt,thoughwithoutpiercinghisflesh,insuchafashionthatitwasimpossibleforhimtomove,whilewithinsixfeetofhimtheinjuredbuffalobull,thinking,nodoubt,thathewastheaggressor,bellowedandrampedtogetathim,tearingthethickaloeswithhisgreathorns。Thatnotimewastobelost,ifIwishedtosavetheman’slife,wasveryclear。Soseizingmyeight—bore,whichwasfortunatelyuninjured,Itookapacetotheleft,fortherhinoceroshadenlargedtheholeinthebush,andaimedatthepointofthebuffalo’sshoulder,sinceonaccountofmypositionIcouldnotgetafairsideshotfortheheart。AsIdidsoIsawthattherhinoceroshadgiventhebullatremendouswoundinthestomach,andthattheshockoftheencounterhadputhislefthind—legoutofjointatthehip。Ifired,andthebulletstrikingtheshoulderbrokeit,andknockedthebuffalodown。Iknewthathecouldnotgetupanymore,becausehewasnowinjuredforeandaft,sonotwithstandinghisterrificbellowsIscrambledroundtowherehewas。Therehelayglaringfuriouslyandtearingupthesoilwithhishorns。SteppinguptowithintwoyardsofhimIaimedatthevertebraofhisneckandfired。Thebulletstrucktrue,andwithathudhedroppedhisheadupontheground,groaned,anddied。
\"ThislittlematterhavingbeenattendedtowiththeassistanceofGobo,whohadnowfoundhisfeet,Iwentontoextricateourunfortunatecompanionfromthealoebush。Thiswefoundathornytask,butatlasthewasdraggedforthuninjured,thoughinaverypiousandprayerfulframeofmind。His’spirithadcertainlylookedthatway,’
hesaid,orhewouldnowhavebeendead。AsIneverliketointerferewithtruepiety,Ididnotventuretosuggestthathisspirithaddeignedtomakeuseofmyeight—boreinhisinterest。
\"Havingdespatchedthisboybacktothecamptotellthebearerstocomeandcutthebuffaloup,IbethoughtmethatIowedthatrhinocerosagrudgewhichIshouldlovetorepay。SowithoutsayingawordofwhatwasinmymindtoGobo,whowasnowmorethaneverconvincedthatFatewalkedaboutlooseinWambe’scountry,Ijustfollowedonthebrute’sspoor。Hehadcrashedthroughthebushtillhereachedthelittleglade。Thenmoderatinghispacesomewhat,hehadfollowedthegladedownitsentirelength,andoncemoreturnedtotherightthroughtheforest,shapinghiscoursefortheopenlandthatliesbetweentheedgeofthebushandtheriver。Havingfollowedhimforamileorsofurther,Ifoundmyselfquiteontheopen。Itookoutmyglassesandsearchedtheplain。Aboutamileaheadwassomethingbrown——asIthought,therhinoceros。Iadvancedanotherquarterofamile,andlookedoncemore——itwasnottherhinoceros,butabigant—
heap。Thiswaspuzzling,butIdidnotliketogiveitup,becauseI
knewfromhisspoorthathemustbesomewhereahead。Butasthewindwasblowingstraightfrommetowardsthelinethathehadfollowed,andasarhinoceroscansmellyouforaboutamile,itwouldnot,I
felt,besafetofollowhistrailanyfurther;soImadeadétourofamileandmore,tillIwasnearlyoppositetheant—heap,andthenoncemoresearchedtheplain。Itwasnogood,Icouldseenothingofhim,andwasabouttogiveitupandstartaftersomeoryxIsawontheskyline,whensuddenlyatadistanceofaboutthreehundredyardsfromtheant—heap,andonitsfurtherside,Isawmyrhinostandupinapatchofgrass。
\"’Heavens!’Ithoughttomyself,’he’soffagain;’butno,afterstandingstaringforaminuteortwoheoncemorelaydown。
\"NowIfoundmyselfinaquandary。Asyouknow,arhinocerosisaveryshort—sightedbrute,indeedhissightisasbadashisscentisgood。
Ofthisfactheisperfectlyaware,buthealwaysmakesthemostofhisnaturalgifts。Forinstance,whenheliesdownheinvariablydoessowithhisheaddownwind。Thus,ifanyenemycrosseshiswindhewillstillbeabletoescape,orattackhim;andif,ontheotherhand,thedangerapproachesupwindhewillatleasthaveachanceofseeingit。Otherwise,bywalkingdelicately,onemightactuallykickhimuplikeapartridge,ifonlytheadvancewasmadeupwind。
\"Well,thepointwas,howonearthshouldIgetwithinshotofthisrhinoceros?AftermuchdeliberationIdeterminedtotryasideapproach,thinkingthatinthiswayImightgetashouldershot。
Accordinglywestartedinacrouchingattitude,Ifirst,Goboholdingontomycoattails,andtheotherboyontoGobo’smoocha。Ialwaysadoptthisplanwhenstalkingbiggame,forifyoufollowanyothersystemthebearerswillgetoutofline。Wearrivedwithinthreehundredyardssafelyenough,andthentherealdifficultiesbegan。Thegrasshadbeensocloselyeatenoffbygamethattherewasscarcelyanycover。Consequentlyitwasnecessarytogoontoourhandsandknees,whichinmycaseinvolvedlayingdowntheeight—boreateverystepandthenliftingitupagain。However,Iwriggledalongsomehow,andifithadnotbeenforGoboandhisfriendnodoubteverythingwouldhavegonewell。Butasyouhave,Idaresay,observed,anativeoutstalkingisalwaysofthatmindwhichissupposedtoactuateanostrich——solongashisheadishiddenheseemstothinkthatnothingelsecanbeseen。Soitwasinthisinstance,Goboandtheotherboycreptalongontheirhandsandtoeswiththeirheadswelldown,but,thoughunfortunatelyIdidnotnoticeittilltoolate,bearingthefundamentalportionsoftheirframeshighintheair。Nowallanimalsarequiteassuspiciousofthisendofmankindastheyareofhisface,andofthatfactIsoonhadaproof。Justwhenwehadgotwithinabouttwohundredyards,andIwascongratulatingmyselfthatIhadnothadthislongcrawlwiththesunbeatingonthebackofmynecklikeafurnacefornothing,Iheardthehissingnoteoftherhinocerosbirds,andupflewfourorfiveofthemfromthebrute’sback,wheretheyhadbeencomfortablyemployedincatchingtics。Nowthisperformanceonthepartofthebirdsistoarhinoceroswhattheword’cave’istoaschoolboy——itputshimonthe/quivive/atonce。
BeforethebirdswerewellintheairIsawthegrassstir。
\"’Downyougo,’Iwhisperedtotheboys,andasIdidsotherhinocerosgotupandglaredsuspiciouslyaround。Buthecouldseenothing,indeedifwehadbeenstandingupIdoubtifhewouldhaveseenusatthatdistance;sohemerelygavetwoorthreesniffsandthenlaydown,hisheadstilldownwind,thebirdsoncemoresettlingonhisback。
\"Butitwascleartomethathewassleepingwithoneeyeopen,beinggenerallyinasuspiciousandunchristianframeofmind,andthatitwasuselesstoproceedfurtheronthisstalk,sowequietlywithdrewtoconsiderthepositionandstudytheground。Theresultswerenotsatisfactory。Therewasabsolutelynocoveraboutexcepttheant—heap,whichwassomethreehundredyardsfromtherhinocerosuponhisup—
windside。IknewthatifItriedtostalkhiminfrontIshouldfail,andsoIshouldifIattemptedtodosofromthefurtherside——heorthebirdswouldseeme;soIcametoaconclusion:Iwouldgototheant—heap,whichwouldgivehimmywind,andinsteadofstalkinghimI
wouldlethimstalkme。Itwasaboldstep,andonewhichIshouldneveradviseahuntertotake,butsomehowIfeltasthoughrhinoandImustplaythehandout。
\"Iexplainedmyintentionstothemen,whobothhelduptheirarmsinhorror。Theirfearsformysafetywerealittlemitigated,however,whenItoldthemthatIdidnotexpectthemtocomewithme。
\"GobobreathedaprayerthatImightnotmeetFatewalkingabout,andtheotheronesincerelytrustedthatmyspiritmightlookmywaywhentherhinoceroscharged,andthentheybothdepartedtoaplaceofsafety。
\"Takingmyeight—bore,andhalf—a—dozensparecartridgesinmypocket,Imadeadétour,andreachingtheant—heapinsafetylaydown。Foramomentthewindhaddropped,butpresentlyagentlepuffofairpassedoverme,andblewontowardstherhinoceros。Bytheway,Iwonderwhatitisthatsmellssostrongaboutaman?Isithisbodyorhisbreath?
Ihaveneverbeenabletomakeout,butIsawitstatedtheotherday,thatintheduckdecoysthemanwhoisworkingtheducksholdsalittlepieceofburningturfbeforehismouth,andthatifhedoesthistheycannotsmellhim,whichlooksasthoughitwerethebreath。
Well,whateveritwasaboutmethatattractedhisattention,therhinocerossoonsmeltme,forwithinhalfaminuteafterthepuffofwindhadpassedmehewasonhislegs,andturningroundtogethisheadupwind。Therehestoodforafewsecondsandsniffed,andthenhebegantomove,firstofallatatrot,then,asthescentgrewstronger,atafuriousgallop。Onhecame,snortinglikearunawayengine,withhistailstuckstraightupintheair;ifhehadseenmeliedowntherehecouldnothavemadeabetterline。Itwasrathernervouswork,Icantellyou,lyingtherewaitingforhisonslaught,forhelookedlikeamountainofflesh。Idetermined,however,nottofiretillIcouldplainlyseehiseye,forIthinkthatrulealwaysgivesonetherightdistanceforbiggame;soIrestedmyrifleontheant—heapandwaitedforhim,kneeling。Atlast,whenhewasaboutfortyyardsaway,Isawthatthetimehadcome,andaimingstraightforthemiddleofthechestIpulled。
\"/Thud/wenttheheavybullet,andwithatremendoussnortoverrolledtherhinocerosbeneathitsshock,justlikeashotrabbit。ButifI
hadthoughtthathewasdoneforIwasmistaken,forinanothersecondhewasupagain,andcomingatmeashardasever,onlywithhisheadheldlow。Iwaitedtillhewaswithintenyards,inthehopethathewouldexposehischest,buthewoulddonothingofthesort;soIjusthadtofireathisheadwiththeleftbarrel,andtakemychance。
Well,asluckwouldhaveit,ofcoursetheanimalputitshorninthewayofthebullet,whichcutcleanthroughitaboutthreeinchesabovetherootandthenglancedoffintospace。
\"Afterthatthingsgotratherserious。Mygunwasemptyandtherhinoceroswasrapidlyarriving,sorapidlyindeedthatIcametotheconclusionthatIhadbettermakewayforhim。AccordinglyIjumpedtomyfeetandrantotherightashardasIcouldgo。AsIdidsohearrivedfulltilt,knockedmyfriendlyant—heapflat,andforthethirdtimethatdaywentamostmagnificentcropper。Thisgavemeafewseconds’start,andIrandownwind——myword,Ididrun!
Unfortunately,however,mymodestretreatwasobserved,andtherhinoceros,assoonashehadfoundhislegsagain,settoworktorunafterme。Nownomanonearthcanrunsofastasanirritatedrhinoceroscangallop,andIknewthathemustsooncatchmeup。Buthavingsomeslightexperienceofthissortofthing,luckilyformyself,Ikeptmyhead,andasIfledImanagedtoopenmyrifle,gettheoldcartridgesout,andputintwofreshones。TodothisIwasobligedtosteadymypacealittle,andbythetimethatIhadsnappedtherifletoIheardthebeastsnortingandthunderingawaywithinafewpacesofmyback。Istopped,andasIdidsorapidlycockedtherifleandsluedrounduponmyheel。Bythistimethebrutewaswithinsixorsevenyardsofme,butluckilyhisheadwasup。Iliftedtherifleandfiredathim。Itwasasnapshot,butthebulletstruckhiminthechestwithinthreeinchesofthefirst,andfounditswayintohislungs。Itdidnotstophim,however,soallIcoulddowastoboundtooneside,whichIdidwithsurprisingactivity,andashebrushedpastmetofiretheotherbarrelintohisside。Thatdidforhim。Theballpassedinbehindtheshoulderandrightthroughhisheart。Hefelloverontohisside,gaveonemoreawfulsqueal——adozenpigscouldnothavemadesuchanoise——andpromptlydied,keepinghiswickedeyeswideopenallthetime。
\"Asforme,Iblewmynose,andgoinguptotherhinocerossatonhishead,andreflectedthatIhaddoneacapitalmorning’sshooting。
III
THEFIRSTROUND
\"Afterthis,asitwasnowmidday,andIhadkilledenoughmeat,wemarchedbacktriumphantlytocamp,whereIproceededtoconcoctastewofbuffalobeefandcompressedvegetables。Whenthiswasreadyweatethestew,andthenItookanap。Aboutfouro’clock,however,Gobowokemeup,andtoldmethattheheadmanofoneofWambe’skraalshadarrivedtoseeme。Iorderedhimtobebroughtup,andpresentlyhecame,alittle,wizened,talkativeoldman,withawaistclothroundhismiddle,andagreasy,frayedkarossmadeoftheskinsofrockrabbitsoverhisshoulders。
\"Itoldhimtositdown,andthenabusedhimroundly。’Whatdidhemean,’Iasked,’bydisturbingmeinthisrudeway?Howdidhedaretocauseapersonofmyqualityandevidentimportancetobeawakenedinordertointerviewhisentirelycontemptibleself?’
\"IspokethusbecauseIknewthatitwouldproduceanimpressiononhim。Nobody,exceptareallygreatman,hewouldargue,woulddaretospeaktohiminthatfashion。Mostsavagesaredesperatebulliesatheart,andlookoninsolenceasasignofpower。
\"Theoldmaninstantlycollapsed。Hewasutterlyovercome,hesaid;
hisheartwassplitintwo,andwellrealizedtheextentofhismisbehaviour。Buttheoccasionwasveryurgent。Heheardthatamightyhunterwasintheneighbourhood,abeautifulwhiteman,howbeautifulhecouldnothaveimaginedhadhenotseen(thistome!),andhecametobeghisassistance。Thetruthwas,thatthreebullelephantssuchasnomaneversawhadforyearsbeentheterroroftheirkraal,whichwasbutasmallplace——acattlekraalofthegreatchiefWambe’s,wheretheylivedtokeepthecattle。Andnowoflatetheseelephantshaddonethemmuchdamage;butlastnighttheyhaddestroyedawholepatchofmealieland,andhefearedthatiftheycamebacktheywouldallstarvenextseasonforwantoffood。Wouldthemightywhitemanthenbepleasedtocomeandkilltheelephants?Itwouldbeeasyforhimtodo——oh,mosteasy!Itwasonlynecessarythatheshouldhidehimselfinatree,fortherewasafullmoon,andthenwhentheelephantsappearedhewouldspeaktothemwiththegun,andtheywouldfalldowndead,andtherewouldbeanendoftheirtroubling。
\"OfcourseIhummedandhawed,andmadeagreatfavourofconsentingtohisproposal,thoughreallyIwasdelightedtohavesuchachance。
OneoftheconditionsthatImadewasthatamessengershouldatoncebedespatchedtoWambe,whosekraalwastwodays’journeyfromwhereI
was,tellinghimthatIproposedtocomeandpaymyrespectstohiminafewdays,andtoaskhisformalpermissiontoshootinhiscountry。
AlsoIintimatedthatIwaspreparedtopresenthimwith’hongo,’thatis,blackmail,andthatIhopedtodoalittletradewithhiminivory,ofwhichIheardhehadagreatquantity。
\"Thismessagetheoldgentlemanpromisedtodespatchatonce,thoughtherewassomethingabouthismannerwhichshowedmethathewasdoubtfulastohowitwouldbereceived。Afterthatwestruckourcampandmovedontothekraal,whichwereachedaboutanhourbeforesunset。Thiskraalwasacollectionofhutssurroundedbyaslightthorn—fence,perhapsthereweretenoftheminall。Itwassituatedinakloofofthemountaindownwhicharivuletflowed。Thekloofwasdenselywooded,butforsomedistanceabovethekraalitwasfreefrombush,andhereontherichdeepgroundbroughtdownbytherivuletwerethecultivatedlands,inextentsomewhereabouttwentyortwenty—
fiveacres。Onthekraalsideoftheselandsstoodasinglehut,thatservedforamealiestore,whichatthemomentwasusedasadwelling—
placebyanoldwoman,thefirstwifeofourfriendtheheadman。
\"Itappearsthatthislady,havinghadsomedifferenceofopinionwithherhusbandabouttheextentofauthorityallowedtoayoungerandmoreamiablewife,hadrefusedtodwellinthekraalanymore,and,bywayofmarkingherdispleasure,hadtakenupherabodeamongthemealies。Astheissuewillshow,shewas,ithappened,cuttingoffhernosetospiteherface。
\"Closebythishutgrewalargebaobabtree。Aglanceatthemealiegroundsshowedmethattheoldheadmanhadnotexaggeratedthemischiefdonebytheelephantstohiscrops,whichwerenowgettingripe。Nearlyhalfoftheentirepatchwasdestroyed。Thegreatbruteshadeatenalltheycould,andtheresttheyhadtrampleddown。Iwentuptotheirspoorandstartedbackinamazement——neverhadIseensuchaspoorbefore。Itwassimplyenormous,moreespeciallythatofoneoldbull,thatcarried,sosaidthenatives,butasingletusk。Onemighthaveusedanyofthefootprintsforahip—bath。
\"Havingtakenstockoftheposition,mynextstepwastomakearrangementsforthefray。Thethreebulls,accordingtothenatives,hadbeenspooredintothedensepatchofbushabovethekloof。Nowitseemedtomeveryprobablethattheywouldreturnto—nighttofeedontheremainderoftheripeningmealies。Ifso,therewasabrightmoon,anditstruckmethatbytheexerciseofalittleingenuityImightbagoneormoreofthemwithoutexposingmyselftoanyrisk,which,havingthehighestrespectfortheaggressivepowersofbullelephants,wasagreatconsiderationtome。
\"Thisthenwasmyplan。Totherightofthehutsasyoulookupthekloof,andcommandingthemealielands,standsthebaobabtreethatI
havementioned。IntothatbaobabtreeImadeupmymindtogo。TheniftheelephantsappearedIshouldgetashotatthem。Iannouncedmyintentionstotheheadmanofthekraal,whowasdelighted。’Now,’hesaid,’hispeoplemightsleepinpeace,forwhilethemightywhitehuntersataloftlikeaspiritwatchingoverthewelfareofhiskraalwhatwastheretofear?’
\"Itoldhimthathewasanungratefulbrutetothinkofsleepinginpeacewhile,perchedlikeawoundedvultureonatree,Iwatchedforhiswelfareinwakefulsorrow;andoncemorehecollapsed,andownedthatmywordswere’sharpbutjust。’
\"However,asIhavesaid,confidencewascompletelyrestored;andthateveningeverybodyinthekraal,includingthesuperannuatedvictimofjealousyinthelittlehutwherethemealiecobswerestored,wenttobedwithasenseofsweetsecurityfromelephantsandallotheranimalsthatprowlbynight。
\"Formypart,Ipitchedmycampbelowthekraal;andthen,havingprocuredabeamofwoodfromtheheadman——ratherarottenone,bytheway——Isetitacrosstwoboughsthatranoutlaterallyfromthebaobabtree,ataheightofabouttwenty—fivefeetfromtheground,insuchfashionthatIandanothermancouldsituponitwithourlegshangingdown,andrestourbacksagainsttheboleofthetree。ThisdoneI
wentbacktothecampandatemysupper。Aboutnineo’clock,half—an—
hourbeforethemoon—rise,IsummonedGobo,who,thinkingthathehadseenaboutenoughofthedelightsofbiggamehuntingforthatday,didnotaltogetherrelishthejob;and,despitehisremonstrances,gavehimmyeight—boretocarry,Ihavingthe。570—express。Thenwesetoutforthetree。Itwasverydark,butwefounditwithoutdifficulty,thoughclimbingitwasamorecomplicatedmatter。However,atlastwegotupandsatdown,liketwolittleboysonaformthatistoohighforthem,andwaited。Ididnotdaretosmoke,becauseI
rememberedtherhinoceros,andfearedthattheelephantsmightwindthetobaccoiftheyshouldcomemyway,andthismadethebusinessmorewearisome,soIfelltothinkingandwonderingatthecompletenessofthesilence。
\"Atlastthemooncameup,andwithitamoaningwind,atthebreathofwhichthesilencebegantowhispermysteriously。Lonelyenoughinthenewbornlightlookedthewideexpanseofmountain,plain,andforest,morelikesomevisionofadream,somereflectionfromafairworldofpeacebeyondourken,thanthemerefaceofgarishearthmadesoftwithsleep。Indeed,haditnotbeenforthefactthatIwasbeginningtofindthelogonwhichIsatveryhard,Ishouldhavegrownquitesentimentaloverthebeautifulsight;butIwilldefyanybodytobecomesentimentalwhenseatedinthedamp,onaveryroughbeamofwood,andhalf—wayupatree。SoImerelymadeamentalnotethatitwasaparticularlylovelynight,andturnedmyattentiontotheprospectofelephants。Butnoelephantscame,andafterwaitingforanotherhourorso,Ithinkthatwhatbetweenwearinessanddisgust,Imusthavedroppedintoagentledoze。PresentlyIawokewithastart。Gobo,whowasperchedclosetome,butasfaroffasthebeamwouldallow——forneitherwhitemannorblacklikethearomawhicheachvowsisthepeculiaranddisagreeablepropertyoftheother——wasfaintly,veryfaintlyclickinghisforefingeragainsthisthumb。I
knewbythissignal,averyfavouriteoneamongnativehuntersandgun—bearers,thathemusthaveseenorheardsomething。Ilookedathisface,andsawthathewasstaringexcitedlytowardsthedimedgeofthebushbeyondthedeepgreenlineofmealies。Istaredtoo,andlistened。PresentlyIheardasoftlargesoundasthoughagiantweregentlystretchingouthishandsandpressingbacktheearsofstandingcorn。Thencameapause,andthen,outintotheopenmajesticallystalkedthelargestelephantIeversaworevershallsee。Heavens!
whatamonsterhewas;andhowthemoonlightgleameduponhisonesplendidtusk——fortheotherwasmissing——ashestoodamongthemealiesgentlymovinghisenormousearstoandfro,andtestingthewindwithhistrunk。WhileIwasstillmarvellingathisgirth,andspeculatingupontheweightofthathugetusk,whichIsworeshouldbemytuskbeforeverylong,outsteppedasecondbullandstoodbesidehim。Hewasnotquitesotall,butheseemedtometobealmostthicker—setthanthefirst;andeveninthatlightIcouldseethatbothhistuskswereperfect。Anotherpause,andthethirdemerged。Hewasshorterthaneitheroftheothers,buthigherintheshoulderthanNo。2;andwhenItellyou,asIafterwardslearntfromactualmeasurement,thatthesmallestofthesemightybullsmeasuredtwelvefeetoneandahalfinchesattheshoulder,itwillgiveyousomeideaoftheirsize。Thethreeformedintolineandstoodstillforaminute,theone—tuskedbullgentlycaressingtheelephantontheleftwithhistrunk。
\"Thentheybegantofeed,walkingforwardandslightlytotherightastheygatheredgreatbunchesofthesweetmealiesandthrustthemintotheirmouths。Allthistimetheyweremorethanahundredandtwentyyardsawayfromme(thisIknew,becauseIhadpacedthedistancesfromthetreetovariouspoints),muchtoofartoallowofmyattemptingashotattheminthatuncertainlight。Theyfedinasemicircle,graduallydrawingroundtowardsthehutnearmytree,inwhichthecornwasstoredandtheoldwomanslept。
\"Thiswentonforbetweenanhourandanhourandahalf,till,whatbetweenexcitementandhope,thatmakeththeheartsick,IgrewsowearythatIwasactuallycontemplatingadescentfromthetreeandamoonlightstalk。Suchanactingroundsoopenwouldhavebeenthatofastarkstaringlunatic,andthatIshouldevenhavebeencontemplatingitwillshowyoutheconditionofmymind。Buteverythingcomestohimwhoknowshowtowait,andsometimestootohimwhodoesn’t,andsoatlastthoseelephants,orratheroneofthem,cametome。
\"Aftertheyhadfedtheirfill,whichwasaverylargeone,thenoblethreestoodoncemoreinlinesomeseventyyardstotheleftofthehut,andontheedgeofthecultivatedlands,orinallabouteighty—
fiveyardsfromwhereIwasperched。Thenatlasttheonewithasingletuskmadeapeculiarrattlingnoiseinhistrunk,justasthoughhewereblowinghisnose,andwithoutmoreadobegantowalkdeliberatelytowardthehutwheretheoldwomanslept。Imademyriflereadyandglancedupatthemoon,onlytodiscoverthatanewcomplicationwasloomingintheimmediatefuture。Ihavesaidthatawindrosewiththemoon。Well,thewindbroughtrain—cloudsalongitstrack。Severallightoneshadalreadylessenedthelightforalittlewhile,thoughwithoutobscuringit,andnowtwomorewerecominguprapidly,bothofthemveryblackanddense。Thefirstcloudwassmallandlong,andtheonebehindbigandbroad。Iremembernoticingthatthepairofthemboreamostcomicalresemblancetoadraydrawnbyaverylongraw—bonedhorse。Asluckwouldhaveit,justastheelephantarrivedwithintwenty—fiveyardsorsoofme,theheadofthehorse—
cloudfloatedoverthefaceofthemoon,renderingitimpossibleformetofire。Inthefainttwilightwhichremained,however,Icouldjustmakeoutthegraymassofthegreatbrutestilladvancingtowardsthehut。ThenthelightwentaltogetherandIhadtotrusttomyears。
Iheardhimfumblingwithhistrunk,apparentlyattheroofofthehut;nextcameasoundasofstrawbeingdrawnout,andthenforalittlewhiletherewascompletesilence。
\"Thecloudbegantopass;Icouldseetheoutlineoftheelephant;hewasstandingwithhisheadquiteoverthetopofthehut。ButIcouldnotseehistrunk,andnowonder,foritwas/insidethehut/。Hehadthrustitthroughtheroof,and,attractednodoubtbythesmellofthemealies,wasgropingaboutwithitinside。Itwasgrowinglightnow,andIgotmyrifleready,whensuddenlytherewasamostawfulyell,andIsawthetrunkreappear,andinitsmightyfoldtheoldwomanwhohadbeensleepinginthehut。Outshecamethroughtheholelikeaperiwinkleonthepointofapin,stillwrappedupinherblanket,andwithherskinnyarmsandlegsstretchedtothefourpointsofthecompass,andasshedidso,gavethatmostalarmingscreech。Ireallydon’tknowwhowasthemostfrightened,she,orI,ortheelephant。Atanyratethelastwasconsiderablystartled;hehadbeenfishingformealies——theoldwomanwasamereaccident,andonethatgreatlydiscomposedhisnerves。Hegaveasortoftrumpet,andthrewherawayfromhimrightintothecrownofalowmimosatree,whereshestuckshriekinglikeametropolitanengine。Theoldbullliftedhistail,andflappinghisgreatearspreparedforflight。I
putupmyeight—bore,andaiminghastilyatthepointofhisshoulder(forhewasbroadsideon),Ifired。Thereportrangoutlikethunder,makingathousandechoesinthequiethills。Isawhimgodownallofaheapasthoughhewerestonedead。Then,alas!whetheritwasthekickoftheheavyrifle,ortheexcitedbumpofthatidiotGobo,orbothtogether,ormerelyanunhappycoincidence,Idonotknow,buttherottenbeambrokeandIwentdowntoo,landingflatatthefootofthetreeuponacertainhumbleportionofthehumanframe。TheshockwassoseverethatIfeltasthoughallmyteethwereflyingthroughtheroofofmymouth,butalthoughIsatslightlystunnedforafewseconds,luckilyformeIfelllight,andwasnotinanywayinjured。
\"Meanwhiletheelephantbegantoscreamwithfearandfury,and,attractedbyhiscries,theothertwochargedup。Ifeltformyrifle;
itwasnotthere。ThenIrememberedthatIhadresteditonaforkoftheboughinordertofire,anddoubtlessthereitremained。Mypositionwasnowveryunpleasant。Ididnotdaretotryandclimbthetreeagain,which,shakenasIwas,wouldhavebeenataskofsomedifficulty,becausetheelephantswouldcertainlyseeme,andGobo,whohadclungtoabough,wasstillaloftwiththeotherrifle。I
couldnotrunbecausetherewasnoshelternear。UnderthesecircumstancesIdidtheonlythingfeasible,clamberedroundthetrunkassoftlyaspossible,andkeepingoneeyeontheelephants,whisperedtoGobotobringdowntherifle,andawaitedthedevelopmentofthesituation。Iknewthatiftheelephantsdidnotseeme——which,luckily,theyweretooenragedtodo——theywouldnotsmellme,forI
wasup—wind。Gobo,however,eitherdidnot,or,preferringthesafetyofthetree,wouldnothearme。Hesaidtheformer,butIbelievedthelatter,forIknewthathewasnotenoughofasportsmantoreallyenjoyshootingelephantsbymoonlightintheopen。SothereIwasbehindmytree,dismayed,unarmed,buthighlyinterested,forIwaswitnessingaremarkableperformance。
\"Whenthetwootherbullsarrivedthewoundedelephantonthegroundceasedtoscream,butbegantomakealowmoaningnoise,andtogentlytouchthewoundnearhisshoulder,fromwhichthebloodwasliterallyspouting。Theothertwoseemedtounderstand;atanyrate,theydidthis。Kneelingdownoneitherside,theyplacedtheirtrunksandtusksunderneathhim,and,aidedbyhisownefforts,withonegreatliftgothimontohisfeet。Thenleaningagainsthimoneithersidetosupporthim,theymarchedoffatawalkinthedirectionofthevillage。[*]Itwasapitifulsight,andeventhenitmademefeelabrute。
[*]TheEditorwouldhavebeeninclinedtothinkthatinrelatingthisincidentMr。Quatermainwasmakinghimselfinterestingattheexpenseoftheexacttruth,diditnothappenthatasimilarincidenthascomewithinhisknowledge。——Editor。
\"Presently,fromawalk,asthewoundedelephantgatheredhimselftogetheralittle,theybrokeintoatrot,andafterthatIcouldfollowthemnolongerwithmyeyes,forthesecondblackcloudcameupoverthemoonandputherout,asanextinguisherputsoutadip。I
saywithmyeyes,butmyearsgavemeaveryfairnotionofwhatwasgoingon。Whenthecloudcameupthethreeterrifiedanimalswereheadingdirectlyforthekraal,probablybecausethewaywasopenandthepatheasy。Ifancythattheygrewconfusedinthedarkness,forwhentheycametothekraalfencetheydidnotturnaside,butcrashedstraightthroughit。Thentherewere’times,’astheIrishservant—
girlsaysintheAmericanbook。Havingtakenthefence,theythoughtthattheymightaswelltakethekraalalso,sotheyjustranoverit。
Onehive—shapedhutwasturnedquiteoverontoitstop,andwhenI
arriveduponthescenethepeoplewhohadbeensleepingtherewerebumblingaboutinsidelikebeesdisturbedatnight,whiletwomorewerecrushedflat,andathirdhadallitssidetornout。Oddlyenough,however,nobodywashurt,thoughseveralpeoplehadanarrowescapeofbeingtroddentodeath。
\"OnarrivalIfoundtheoldheadmaninastatepainfullylikethatfavouredbyGreekart,dancingaboutinfrontofhisruinedabodesasvigorouslyasthoughhehadjustbeenstungbyascorpion。
\"Iaskedhimwhatailedhim,andheburstoutintoafloodofabuse。
HecalledmeaWizard,aSham,aFraud,aBringerofbadluck!Ihadpromisedtokilltheelephants,andIhadsoarrangedthingsthattheelephantshadnearlykilledhim,etc。
\"This,stillsmarting,orratheraching,asIwasfromthatmostterrificbump,wastoomuchformyfeelings,soIjustmadearushatmyfriend,andgettinghimbytheear,Ibangedhisheadagainstthedoorwayofhisownhut,whichwasallthatwasleftofit。
\"’Youwickedoldscoundrel,’Isaid,’youdaretocomplainaboutyourowntriflinginconveniences,whenyougavemearottenbeamtositon,andtherebydeliveredmetothefuryoftheelephant’(/bump!bump!
bump!/),’whenyourownwife’(/bump!/)’hasjustbeendraggedoutofherhut’(/bump!/)’likeasnailfromitsshell,andthrownbytheEarth—shakerintoatree’(/bump!bump!/)。
\"’Mercy,myfather,mercy!’gaspedtheoldfellow。’TrulyIhavedoneamiss——myhearttellsmeso。’
\"’Ishouldhopeitdid,youoldvillain’(/bump!/)。
\"’Mercy,greatwhiteman!Ithoughtthelogwassound。Butwhatsaystheunequalledchief——istheoldwoman,mywife,indeeddead?Ah,ifsheisdeadallmayyetprovetohavebeenfortheverybest;’andheclaspedhishandsandlookeduppiouslytoheaven,inwhichthemoonwasoncemoreshiningbrightly。
\"Iletgohisearandburstoutlaughing,thewholesceneandhisdevoutaspirationsforthedeceaseofthepartnerofhisjoys,orratherwoes,weresointenselyridiculous。
\"’No,youoldiniquity,’Ianswered;’Ileftherinthetopofathorn—tree,screaminglikeathousandbluejays。Theelephantputherthere。’
\"’Alas!alas!’hesaid,’surelythebackoftheoxisshapedtotheburden。Doubtless,myfather,shewillcomedownwhensheistired;’
andwithouttroublinghimselffurtheraboutthematter,hebegantoblowatthesmoulderingembersofthefire。
\"And,asamatteroffact,shedidappearafewminuteslater,considerablyscratchedandstartled,butnonetheworse。
\"AfterthatImademywaytomylittlecamp,which,fortunately,theelephantshadnotwalkedover,andwrappingmyselfupinablanket,wassoonfastasleep。
\"Andsoendedmyfirstroundwiththosethreeelephants。
IV
THELASTROUND
\"OnthemorrowIwokeupfullofpainfulrecollections,andnotwithoutacertainfeelingofgratitudetothePowersabovethatIwastheretowakeup。Yesterdayhadbeenatempestuousday;indeed,whatbetweenbuffalo,rhinoceros,andelephant,ithadbeenverytempestuous。Havingrealizedthisfact,Inextbethoughtmeofthosemagnificenttusks,andinstantly,earlyasitwas,brokethetenthcommandment。Icovetedmyneighbourstusks,ifanelephantcouldbesaidtobemyneighbour/dejure/,ascertainly,sorecentlyasthepreviousnight,hehadbeen/defacto/——amuchcloserneighbourthanI
caredfor,indeed。Nowwhenyoucovetyourneighbour’sgoods,thebestthing,ifnotthemostmoralthing,todoistoenterhishouseasastrongmanarmed,andtakethem。Iwasnotastrongman,buthavingrecoveredmyeight—boreIwasarmed,andsowastheotherstrongman——
theelephantwiththetusks。ConsequentlyIpreparedforastruggletothedeath。Inotherwords,Isummonedmyfaithfulretainers,andtoldthemthatIwasnowgoingtofollowthoseelephantstotheedgeoftheworld,ifnecessary。Theyshowedacertainbashfulnessaboutthebusiness,buttheydidnotgainsayme,becausetheydarednot。EversinceIhadpreparedwithallduesolemnitytoexecutetherebelliousGobotheyhadconceivedagreatrespectforme。
\"SoIwentuptobidadieutotheoldheadman,whomIfoundalternatelycontemplatingtheruinsofhiskraaland,withtheableassistanceofhislastwife,thrashingthejealousladywhohadsleptinthemealiehut,becauseshewas,ashedeclared,thefountofallhissorrows。
\"Leavingthemtoworkawaythroughtheirdomesticdifferences,I
leviedasupplyofvegetablefoodfromthekraalinconsiderationofservicesrendered,andleftthemwithmyblessing。Idonotknowhowtheysettledmatters,becauseIhavenotseenthemsince。
\"ThenIstartedonthespoorofthethreebulls。Foracoupleofmilesorsobelowthekraal——asfar,indeed,asthebeltofswampthatborderstheriver——thegroundisatthisspotratherstony,andclothedwithscatteredbushes。Rainhadfallentowardsthedaybreak,andthisfact,togetherwiththenatureofthesoil,madespooringaverydifficultbusiness。Thewoundedbullhadindeedbledfreely,buttherainhadwashedthebloodofftheleavesandgrass,andthegroundbeingsoroughandharddidnottakethefootmarkssoclearlyaswasconvenient。However,wegotalong,thoughslowly,partlybythespoor,andpartlybycarefullyliftingleavesandbladesofgrass,andfindingbloodunderneaththem,forthebloodgushingfromawoundedanimaloftenfallsupontheirinnersurfaces,andthen,ofcourse,unlesstherainisveryheavy,itisnotwashedaway。Ittookussomethingoveranhourandahalftoreachtheedgeofthemarsh,butoncethereourtaskbecamemucheasier,forthesoftsoilshowedplentifulevidencesofthegreatbrutes’passage。Threadingourwaythroughtheswampyland,wecameatlasttoafordoftheriver,andherewecouldseewherethepoorwoundedanimalhadlaindowninthemudandwaterinthehopeofeasinghimselfofhispain,andcouldseealsohowhistwofaithfulcompanionshadassistedhimtoriseagain。
Wecrossedtheford,andtookupthespooronthefurtherside,andfolloweditintothemarsh—likelandbeyond。Norainhadfallenonthissideoftheriver,andtheblood—markswereconsequentlymuchmorefrequent。