\"Allthatdaywefollowedthethreebulls,nowacrossopenplains,andnowthroughpatchesofbush。Theyseemedtohavetravelledonalmostwithoutstopping,andInoticedthatastheywentthewoundedbullrecoveredhisstrengthalittle。ThisIcouldseefromhisspoor,whichhadbecomefirmer,andalsofromthefactthattheothertwohadceasedtosupporthim。Atlasteveningclosedin,andhavingtravelledsomeeighteenmiles,wecamped,thoroughlytiredout。
\"Beforedawnonthefollowingdaywewereup,andthefirstbreakoflightfoundusoncemoreonthespoor。Abouthalf—pastfiveo’clockwereachedtheplacewheretheelephantshadfedandslept。Thetwounwoundedbullshadtakentheirfill,astheconditionoftheneighbouringbushesshowed,butthewoundedonehadeatennothing。Hehadspentthenightleaningagainstagood—sizedtree,whichhisweighthadpushedoutoftheperpendicular。Theyhadnotlongleftthisplace,andcouldnotbeveryfarahead,especiallyasthewoundedbullwasnowagainsostiffafterhisnight’srestthatforthefirstfewmilestheothertwohadbeenobligedtosupporthim。Butelephantsgoveryquick,evenwhentheyseemtobetravellingslowly,forshrubandcreepersthatalmoststopaman’sprogressarenohindrancetothem。Thethreehadnowturnedtotheleft,andweretravellingbackagaininasemicircularlinetowardthemountains,probablywiththeideaofworkingroundtotheiroldfeedinggroundsonthefurthersideoftheriver。
\"Therewasnothingforitbuttofollowtheirlead,andaccordinglywefollowedwithindustry。Throughallthatlonghotdaydidwetramp,passingquantitiesofeverysortofgame,andevencomingacrossthespoorofotherelephants。But,inspiteofmymen’sentreaties,I
wouldnotturnasideafterthese。Iwouldhavethosemightytusksornone。
\"Byeveningwewerequiteclosetoourgame,probablywithinaquarterofamile,butthebushwasdense,andwecouldseenothingofthem,sooncemorewemustcamp,thoroughlydisgustedwithourluck。Thatnight,justafterthemoonrose,whileIwassittingsmokingmypipewithmybackagainstatree,Iheardanelephanttrumpet,asthoughsomethinghadstartledit,andnotthreehundredyardsaway。Iwasverytired,butmycuriosityovercamemyweariness,so,withoutsayingawordtoanyofthemen,allofwhomwereasleep,Itookmyeight—
boreandafewsparecartridges,andsteeredtowardthesound。Thegamepathwhichwehadbeenfollowingalldayranstraightoninthedirectionfromwhichtheelephanthadtrumpeted。Itwasnarrow,butwelltrodden,andthelightstruckdownuponitinastraightwhiteline。Icreptalongitcautiouslyforsometwohundredyards,whenitopenedsuddenlyintoamostbeautifulgladesomehundredyardsormoreinwidth,whereintallgrassgrewandflat—toppedtreesstoodsingly。
WiththecautionbornoflongexperienceIwatchedforafewmomentsbeforeIenteredtheglade,andthenIsawwhytheelephanthadtrumpeted。Thereinthemiddleofthegladestoodalargemanedlion。
Hestoodquitestill,makingasoftpurringnoise,andwavinghistailtoandfro。Presentlythegrassaboutfortyyardsonthehithersideofhimgaveawideripple,andalionesssprangoutofitlikeaflash,andboundednoiselesslyuptothelion。Reachinghim,thegreatcathaltedsuddenly,andrubbedherheadagainsthisshoulder。Thentheybothbegantopurrloudly,soloudlythatIbelievethatinthestillnessonemighthaveheardthemtwohundredyardsormoreaway。
\"Afteratime,whileIwasstillhesitatingwhattodo,eithertheygotawhiffofmywind,ortheyweariedofstandingstill,anddeterminedtostartinsearchofgame。Atanyrate,asthoughmovedbyacommonimpulse,theyboundedsuddenlyaway,leapbyleap,andvanishedinthedepthsoftheforesttotheleft。Iwaitedforalittlewhilelongertoseeiftherewereanymoreyellowskinsabout,andseeingnone,cametotheconclusionthatthelionsmusthavefrightenedtheelephantsaway,andthatIhadtakenmystrollfornothing。ButjustasIwasturningbackIthoughtthatIheardaboughbreakuponthefurthersideoftheglade,and,rashastheactwas,I
followedthesound。Icrossedthegladeassilentlyasmyownshadow。
Onitsfurthersidethepathwenton。Albeitwithmanyfears,Iwentontoo。Thejunglegrowthwassothickherethatitalmostmetoverhead,leavingsosmallapassageforthelightthatIcouldscarcelyseetogropemywayalong。Presently,however,itwidened,andthenopenedintoasecondgladeslightlysmallerthanthefirst,andthere,onthefurthersideofit,abouteightyyardsfromme,stoodthethreeenormouselephants。
\"Theystoodthus:——Immediatelyoppositeandfacingmewasthewoundedone—tuskedbull。Hewasleaninghisbulkagainstadeadthorn—tree,theonlyoneintheplace,andlookedverysickindeed。Nearhimstoodthesecondbullasthoughkeepingawatchoverhim。Thethirdelephantwasagooddealnearertomeandbroadsideon。WhileIwasstillstaringatthem,thiselephantsuddenlywalkedoffandvanisheddownapathinthebushtotheright。
\"Therearenowtwothingstobedone——eitherIcouldgobacktothecampandadvanceupontheelephantsatdawn,orIcouldattackthematonce。Thefirstwas,ofcourse,byfarthewiserandsafercourse。Toengageoneelephantbymoonlightandsingle—handedisasufficientlyrashproceeding;totacklethreewaslittleshortoflunacy。But,ontheotherhand,Iknewthattheywouldbeonthemarchagainbeforedaylight,andtheremightcomeanotherdayofwearytrudgingbeforeI
couldcatchthemup,ortheymightescapemealtogether。
\"’No,’Ithoughttomyself,’faintheartneverwonfairtusk。I’llriskit,andhaveaslapatthem。Buthow?’Icouldnotadvanceacrosstheopen,fortheywouldseeme;clearlytheonlythingtodowastocreeproundintheshadowofthebushandtrytocomeuponthemso。SoIstarted。Sevenoreightminutesofcarefulstalkingbroughtmetothemouthofthepathdownwhichthethirdelephanthadwalked。Theothertwowerenowaboutfiftyyardsfromme,andthenatureofthewallofbushwassuchthatIcouldnotseehowtogetnearertothemwithoutbeingdiscovered。Ihesitated,andpeepeddownthepathwhichtheelephanthadfollowed。Aboutfiveyardsin,ittookaturnroundashrub。IthoughtthatIwouldjusthavealookbehindit,andadvanced,expectingthatIshouldbeabletocatchasightoftheelephant’stail。Asithappened,however,Imethistrunkcomingroundthecorner。Itisverydisconcertingtoseeanelephant’strunkwhenyouexpecttoseehistail,andforamomentIstoodparalyzedalmostunderthevastbrute’shead,forhewasnotfiveyardsfromme。Hetoohalted,threwuphistrunkandtrumpetedpreparatorytoacharge。I
wasinforitnow,forIcouldnotescapeeithertotherightorleft,onaccountofthebush,andIdidnotdareturnmyback。SoIdidtheonlythingthatIcoulddo——raisedtherifleandfiredattheblackmassofhischest。Itwastoodarkformetopickashot;Icouldonlybrownhim,asitwere。
\"Theshotrungoutlikethunderonthequietair,andtheelephantanswereditwithascream,thendroppedhistrunkandstoodforasecondortwoasstillasthoughhehadbeencutinstone。IconfessthatIlostmyhead;Ioughttohavefiredmysecondbarrel,butIdidnot。Insteadofdoingso,Irapidlyopenedmyrifle,pulledouttheoldcartridgefromtherightbarrelandreplacedit。ButbeforeI
couldsnapthebreechto,thebullwasatme。Isawhisgreattrunkflyuplikeabrownbeam,andIwaitednolonger。Turning,Ifledfordearlife,andaftermethunderedtheelephant。RightintotheopengladeIran,andthen,thankHeaven,justashewascomingupwithmethebullettookeffectonhim。Hehadbeenshotrightthroughtheheart,orlungs,anddownhefellwithacrash,stonedead。
\"ButinescapingfromScyllaIhadrunintothejawsofCharybdis。I
heardtheelephantfall,andglancedround。Straightinfrontofme,andnotfifteenpacesaway,weretheothertwobulls。Theywerestaringabout,andatthatmomenttheycaughtsightofme。Thentheycame,thepairofthem——camelikethunderbolts,andfromdifferentangles。Ihadonlytimetosnapmyrifleto,liftit,andfire,almostathaphazard,attheheadofthenearest,theunwoundedbull。
\"Now,asyouknow,inthecaseoftheAfricanelephant,whoseskullisconvex,andnotconcavelikethatoftheIndian,thisisalwaysamostriskyandveryfrequentlyaperfectlyuselessshot。Thebulletlosesitselfinthemassesofbone,thatisall。Butthereisonelittlevitalplace,andshouldthebullethappentostrikethere,itwillfollowthechannelofthenostrils——atleastIsupposeitisthatofthenostrils——andreachthebrain。Andthiswaswhathappenedinthepresentcase——theballstruckthefatalspotintheregionoftheeyeandtravelledtothebrain。Downcamethegreatbullallofaheap,androlledontohissideasdeadasastone。Iswungroundatthatinstanttofacethethird,themonsterbullwithonetuskthatIhadwoundedtwodaysbefore。Hewasalreadyalmostoverme,andinthedimmoonlightseemedtotowerabovemelikeahouse。Iliftedtherifleandpulledathisneck。Itwouldnotgooff!Then,inaflash,asitwere,Irememberedthatitwasonthehalf—cock。Thelockofthisbarrelwasalittleweak,andafewdaysbefore,infiringatacoweland,theleftbarrelhadjarredoffattheshockofthedischargeoftheright,knockingmebackwardswiththerecoil;soafterthatIhadkeptitonthehalf—cocktillIactuallywantedtofireit。
\"Igaveonedesperateboundtotheright,and,mylamelegnotwithstanding,Ibelievethatfewmencouldhavemadeabetterjump。
Atanyrate,itwasnonetoosoon,forasIjumpedIfeltthewindmadebythetremendousdownwardstrokeofthemonster’strunk。ThenI
ranforit。
\"Iranlikeabuck,stillkeepingholdofmygun,however。Myidea,sofarasIcouldbesaidtohaveanyfixedidea,wastoboltdownthepathwayupwhichIhadcome,likearabbitdownaburrow,trustingthathewouldlosesightofmeintheuncertainlight。Ispedacrosstheglade。Fortunatelythebull,beingwounded,couldnotgofullspeed;butwoundedorno,hecouldgoquiteasfastasIcould。Iwasunabletogainaninch,andawaywewent,withjustaboutthreefeetbetweenourseparateextremities。Wewereattheothersidenow,andaglanceservedtoshowmethatIhadmiscalculatedandovershottheopening。Toreachitnowwashopeless;Ishouldhaveblunderedstraightintotheelephant。SoIdidtheonlythingIcoulddo:I
swervedlikeacoursehare,andstartedoffroundtheedgeoftheglade,seekingforsomeopeningintowhichIcouldplunge。Thisgavemeamoment’sstart,forthebullcouldnotturnasquicklyasI
could,andImadethemostofit。ButnoopeningcouldIsee;thebushwaslikeawall。Wewerespeedingroundtheedgeoftheglade,andtheelephantwascomingupagain。Nowhewaswithinaboutsixfeet,andnow,ashetrumpetedorratherscreamed,Icouldfeelthefiercehotblastofhisbreathstrikeuponmyhead。Heavens!howitfrightenedme!
\"Wewerethreepartsroundthegladenow,andaboutfiftyyardsaheadwasthesinglelargedeadthorn—treeagainstwhichthebullhadbeenleaning。Ispurtedforit;itwasmylastchanceofsafety。ButspurtasIwould,itseemedhoursbeforeIgotthere。Puttingoutmyrighthand,Iswungroundthetree,thusbringingmyselffacetofacewiththeelephant。Ihadnottimetolifttherifletofire,Ihadbarelytimetocockit,andrunsidewaysandbackward,whenhewasontome。
Crash!hecame,strikingthetreefullwithhisforehead。Itsnappedlikeacarrotaboutfortyinchesfromtheground。FortunatelyIwasclearofthetrunk,butoneofthedeadbranchesstruckmeonthechestasitwentdownandsweptmetotheground。Ifelluponmyback,andtheelephantblunderedpastmeasIlay。MorebyinstinctthananythingelseIliftedtheriflewithonehandandpulledthetrigger。
Itexploded,and,asIdiscoveredafterwards,thebulletstruckhimintheribs。Buttherecoiloftheheavyrifleheldthuswasverysevere;
itbentmyarmup,andsentthebuttwithathudagainstthetopofmyshoulderandthesideofmyneck,forthemomentquiteparalyzingme,andcausingtheweapontojumpfrommygrasp。Meanwhilethebullwasrushingon。Hetravelledforsometwentypaces,andthensuddenlyhestopped。FaintlyIreflectedthathewascomingbacktofinishme,buteventheprospectofimminentanddreadfuldeathcouldnotrousemeintoaction。Iwasutterlyspent;Icouldnotmove。
\"Idly,almostindifferently,Iwatchedhismovements。Foramomenthestoodstill,nexthetrumpetedtillthewelkinrang,andthenveryslowly,andwithgreatdignity,hekneltdown。AtthispointIswoonedaway。
\"WhenIcametomyselfagainIsawfromthemoonthatImusthavebeeninsensibleforquitetwohours。Iwasdrenchedwithdew,andshiveringallover。AtfirstIcouldnotthinkwhereIwas,when,onliftingmyhead,Isawtheoutlineoftheone—tuskedbullstillkneelingsomefive—and—twentypacesfromme。ThenIremembered。SlowlyIraisedmyself,andwasinstantlytakenwithaviolentsickness,theresultofover—exertion,afterwhichIverynearlyfaintedasecondtime。
PresentlyIgrewbetter,andconsideredtheposition。Twooftheelephantswere,asIknew,dead;buthowaboutNo。3?Therehekneltinmajestyinthelonelymoonlight。Thequestionwas,washeresting,ordead?Iroseonmyhandsandknees,loadedmyrifle,andpainfullycreptafewpacesnearer。Icouldseehiseyenow,forthemoonlightfellfulluponit——itwasopen,andratherprominent。Icrouchedandwatched;theeyeliddidnotmove,nordidthegreatbrownbody,orthetrunk,ortheear,orthetail——nothingmoved。ThenIknewthathemustbedead。
\"Icreptuptohim,stillkeepingtheriflewellforward,andgavehimathump,reflectingasIdidsohowverynearIhadbeentobeingthumpedinsteadofthumping。Heneverstirred;certainlyhewasdead,thoughtothisdayIdonotknowifitwasmyrandomshotthatkilledhim,orifhediedfromconcussionofthebrainconsequentuponthetremendousshockofhiscontactwiththetree。Anyhow,therehewas。
Coldandbeautifulhelay,orratherknelt,asthepoetnearlyputsit。Indeed,IdonotthinkthatIhaveeverseenasightmoreimposinginitswaythanthatofthemightybeastcrouchedinmajesticdeath,andshoneuponbythelonelymoon。
\"WhileIstoodadmiringthescene,andheartilycongratulatingmyselfuponmyescape,oncemoreIbegantofeelsick。Accordingly,withoutwaitingtoexaminetheothertwobulls,Istaggeredbacktothecamp,whichinduecourseIreachedinsafety。Everybodyinitwasasleep。I
didnotwakethem,buthavingswallowedamouthfulofbrandyIthrewoffmycoatandshoes,rolledmyselfupinablanket,andwassoonfastasleep。
\"WhenIwokeitwasalreadylight,andatfirstIthoughtthat,likeJoseph,Ihaddreamedadream。Atthatmoment,however,Iturnedmyhead,andquicklyknewthatitwasnodream,formyneckandfaceweresostifffromtheblowofthebutt—endoftheriflethatitwasagonytomovethem。Icollapsedforaminuteortwo。Goboandanotherman,wrappeduplikeacoupleofmonksintheirblankets,thinkingthatI
wasstillasleep,werecrouchedoveralittlefiretheyhadmade,forthemorningwasdampandchilly,andholdingsweetconverse。
\"Gobosaidthathewasgettingtiredofrunningafterelephantswhichtheynevercaught。Macumazahn(thatis,myself)waswithoutdoubtamanofparts,andofsomeskillinshooting,butalsohewasafool。
Nonebutafoolwouldrunsofastandfarafterelephantswhichitwasimpossibletocatch,whentheykeptcuttingthespooroffreshones。
Hecertainlywasafool,buthemustnotbeallowedtocontinueinhisfolly;andhe,Gobo,haddeterminedtoputastoptoit。Heshouldrefusetoaccompanyhimanyfurtheronsomadahunt。
\"’Yes,’theotheranswered,’thepoormancertainlywassickinhishead,anditwasquitetimethattheycheckedhisfollywhiletheystillhadapatchofskinleftupontheirfeet。Moreover,heforhispartcertainlydidnotlikethiscountryofWambe’s,whichreallywasfullofghosts。Onlythelastnighthehadheardthespooksatwork——
theywereoutshooting,atleastitsoundedasthoughtheywere。Itwasveryqueer,butperhapstheirlunaticofamaster————’
\"’Gobo,youscoundrel!’Ishoutedoutatthisjuncture,sittingboltuprightontheblankets,’stopidlingthereandmakemesomecoffee。’
\"UpsprangGoboandhisfriend,andinhalfamomentwererespectfullyskippingaboutinamannerthatcontrastedwellwiththelordlycontemptoftheirpreviousconversation。Butallthetimetheywereinearnestinwhattheysaidabouthuntingtheelephantsanyfurther,forbeforeIhadfinishedmycoffeetheycametomeinabody,andsaidthatifIwantedtofollowthoseelephantsImustfollowthemmyself,fortheywouldnotgo。
\"Iarguedwiththem,andaffectedtobemuchputout。Theelephantswerecloseathand,Isaid;Iwassureofit;Ihadheardthemtrumpetinthenight。
\"’Yes,’answeredthemenmysteriously,’theytoohadheardthingsinthenight,thingsnotnicetohear;theyhadheardthespooksoutshooting,andnolongerwouldtheyremaininacountrysovilelyhaunted。’
\"’Itwasnonsense,’Ireplied。’Ifghostswentoutshooting,surelytheywoulduseair—gunsandnotblackpowder,andonewouldnothearanair—gun。Well,iftheywerecowards,andwouldnotcome,ofcourseIcouldnotforcethemto,butIwouldmakeabargainwiththem。Theyshouldfollowthoseelephantsforonehalf—hourmore,thenifwefailedtocomeuponthemIwouldabandonthepursuit,andwewouldgostraighttoWambe,chiefoftheMatuku,andgivehimhongo。’
\"Tothiscompromisethemenagreedreadily。Accordinglyabouthalf—an—
hourlaterwestruckourcampandstarted,andnotwithstandingmyachesandbruises,IdonotthinkthatIeverfeltinbetterspiritsinmylife。Itissomethingtowakeupinthemorningandrememberthatinthedeadofthenight,single—handed,onehasgivenbattletoandoverthrownthreeofthelargestelephantsinAfrica,slayingthemwiththreebullets。Suchafeattomyknowledgehadneverbeendonebefore,andonthatparticularmorningIfeltavery’tallmanofmyhands’indeed。TheonlythingIfearedwas,thatshouldIevercometotellthestorynobodywouldbelieveit,forwhenastrangetaleistoldbyahunter,peopleareapttothinkitisnecessarilyalie,insteadofbeingonlyprobablyso。[*]
[*]ForthesatisfactionofanywhomaybesodisbelievingastotakethisviewofMr。Quatermain’sstory,theEditormaystatethatagentlemanwithwhomheisacquainted,andwhoseveracityhebelievestobebeyonddoubt,notlongagodescribedtohimhowhechancedtokill/four/Africanelephantswithfourconsecutivebullets。Twooftheseelephantswerecharginghimsimultaneously,andoutofthefourthreewerekilledwiththeheadshot,averyuncommonthinginthecaseoftheAfricanelephant。——Editor。
\"Well,wepassedontill,havingcrossedthefirstgladewhereIhadseenthelions,wereachedtheneckofbushthatseparateditfromthesecondglade,wherethedeadelephantswere。AndhereIbegantotakeelaborateprecautions,amongstothersorderingGobotokeepsomeyardsaheadandlookoutsharp,asIthoughtthattheelephantsmightbeabout。Heobeyedmyinstructionswithasuperiorsmile,andpushedahead。PresentlyIsawhimpullupasthoughhehadbeenshot,andbegintosnaphisfingersfaintly。
\"’Whatisit?’Iwhispered。
\"’Theelephant,thegreatelephantwithonetuskkneelingdown。’
\"Icreptupbesidehim。TherekneltthebullasIhadlefthimlastnight,andtheretoolaytheotherbulls。
\"’Dotheseelephantssleep?’IwhisperedtotheastonishedGobo。
\"’Yes,Macumazahn,theysleep。’
\"’Nay,Gobo,theyaredead。’
\"’Dead?Howcantheybedead?Whokilledthem?’
\"’Whatdopeoplecallme,Gobo?’
\"’TheycallyouMacumazahn。’
\"’AndwhatdoesMacumazahnmean?’
\"’Itmeansthemanwhokeepshiseyesopen,themanwhogetsupinthenight。’
\"’Yes,Gobo,andIamthatman。Look,youidle,lazycowards;whileyousleptlastnightIrose,andaloneIhuntedthosegreatelephants,andslewthembythemoonlight。ToeachofthemIgaveonebulletandonlyone,anditfelldead。Look,’andIadvancedintotheglade,’hereismyspoor,andhereisthespoorofthegreatbullchargingafterme,andthereisthetreethatItookrefugebehind;see,theelephantshattereditinhischarge。Oh,youcowards,youwhowouldgiveupthechasewhilethebloodspoorsteamedbeneathyournostrils,seewhatIdidsingle—handedwhileyouslept,andbeashamed。’
\"’/Ou!/’saidthemen,’/ou!/Koos!Koosyumcool!’(Chief,greatChief!)Andthentheyheldtheirtongues,andgoinguptothethreedeadbeasts,gazedupontheminsilence。
\"Butafterthatthosemenlookeduponmewithaweasbeingalmostmorethanmortal。Nomereman,theysaid,couldhaveslainthosethreeelephantsaloneinthenight—time。Ineverhadanyfurthertroublewiththem。IbelievethatifIhadtoldthemtojumpoveraprecipiceandthattheywouldtakenoharm,theywouldhavebelievedme。
\"Well,Iwentupandexaminedthebulls。SuchtusksastheyhadI
neversawandnevershallseeagain。Ittookusalldaytocutthemout;andwhentheyreachedDelagoaBay,astheydidultimately,thoughnotinmykeeping,thesingletuskofthebigbullscaledonehundredandsixtypounds,andthefourothertusksaveragedninety—nineandahalfpounds——amostwonderful,indeedanalmostunprecedented,lotofivory。[*]UnfortunatelyIwasforcedtosawthebigtuskintwo,otherwisewecouldnothavecarriedit。\"
[*]ThelargestelephanttuskofwhichtheEditorhasanycertainknowledgescaledonehundredandfiftypounds。
\"Oh,Quatermain,youbarbarian!\"Ibrokeinhere,\"theideaofspoilingsuchatusk!Why,IwouldhavekeptitwholeifIhadbeenobligedtodragitmyself。\"
\"Ohyes,youngman,\"heanswered,\"itisallverywellforyoutotalklikethat,butifyouhadfoundyourselfinthepositionwhichitwasmyprivilegetooccupyafewhoursafterwards,itismybeliefthatyouwouldhavethrownthetusksawayaltogetherandtakentoyourheels。\"
\"Oh,\"saidGood,\"sothatisn’ttheendoftheyarn?Averygoodyarn,Quatermain,bytheway——Icouldn’thavemadeupabetteronemyself。\"
TheoldgentlemanlookedatGoodseverely,foritirritatedhimtobechaffedabouthisstories。
\"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean,Good。Idon’tseethatthereisanycomparisonbetweenatruestoryofadventureandthepreposteroustaleswhichyouinventaboutibexhangingbytheirhorns。No,itisnottheendofthestory;themostexcitingpartistocome。ButI
havetalkedenoughforto—night;andifyougooninthatway,Good,itwillbesometimebeforeIbeginagain。\"
\"SorryIspoke,I’msure,\"saidGood,humbly。\"Let’shaveasplittoshowthatthereisnoill—feeling。\"Andtheydid。
V
THEMESSAGEOFMAIWA
Onthefollowingeveningweoncemoredinedtogether,andQuatermain,aftersomepressure,waspersuadedtocontinuehisstory——forGood’sremarkstillrankledinhisbreast。
\"Atlast,\"hewenton,\"afewminutesbeforesunset,thetaskwasfinished。Wehadlabouredatitallday,stoppingonlyoncefordinner,foritisnoeasymattertohewoutfivesuchtusksasthosewhichnowlaybeforemeinawhiteandgleamingline。Itwasadinnerwortheating,too,Icantellyou,forwedinedofftheheartofthegreatone—tuskedbull,whichwassobigthatthemanwhomIsentinsidetheelephanttolookforhisheartwasforcedtoremoveitintwopieces。Wecutitintoslicesandfrieditwithfat,andInevertastedhearttoequalit,forthemeatseemedtomeltinone’smouth。
Bytheway,Iexaminedthejawoftheelephant;itnevergrewbutonetusk;theotherhadnotbeenbrokenoff,norwasitpresentinarudimentaryform。
\"Well,therelaythefivebeauties,orratherfourofthem,forGoboandanothermanwereengagedinsawingthegrandoneintwo。AtlastwithmanysighsIorderedthemtodothis,butnotuntilbypracticalexperimentIhadprovedthatitwasimpossibletocarryitinanyotherway。Onehundredandsixtypoundsofsolidivory,orrathermoreinitsgreenstate,istoogreataweightfortwomentobearforlongacrossabrokencountry。Isatwatchingthejobandsmokingthepipeofcontentment,whensuddenlythebushopened,andaveryhandsomeanddignifiednativegirl,apparentlyabouttwentyyearsofage,stoodbeforeme,carryingabasketofgreenmealiesuponherhead。
\"AlthoughIwasrathersurprisedtoseeanativegirlinsuchawildspot,and,sofarasIknew,alongwayfromanykraal,thematterdidnotattractmyparticularnotice;Imerelycalledtooneofthemen,andtoldhimtobargainwiththewomanforthemealies,andaskheriftherewereanymoretobeboughtintheneighbourhood。ThenIturnedmyheadandcontinuedtosuperintendthecuttingofthetusk。
Presentlyashadowfelluponme。Ilookedup,andsawthatthegirlwasstandingbeforeme,thebasketofmealiesstillonherhead。
\"’Marême,Marême,’shesaid,gentlyclappingherhandstogether。ThewordMarêmeamongtheseMatuku(thoughshewasnoMatuku)answerstotheZulu’Koos,’andtheclappingofhandsisaformofsalutationverycommonamongthetribesoftheBasuturace。
\"’Whatisit,girl?’IaskedherinSisutu。’Arethosemealiesforsale?’
\"’No,greatwhitehunter,’sheansweredinZulu,’Ibringthemasagift。’
\"’Good,’Ireplied;’setthemdown。’
\"’Agiftforagift,whiteman。’
\"’Ah,’Igrumbled,’theoldstory——nothingfornothinginthiswickedworld。Whatdoyouwant——beads?’
\"Shenodded,andIwasabouttotelloneofthementogoandfetchsomefromoneofthepacks,whenshecheckedme。
\"’Agiftfromthegiver’sownhandistwiceagift,’shesaid,andI
thoughtthatshespokemeaningly。
\"’Youmeanthatyouwantmetogivethemtoyoumyself?’
\"’Surely。’
\"Irosetogowithher。’Howisitthat,beingoftheMatuku,youspeakintheZulutongue?’Iaskedsuspiciously。
\"’IamnotoftheMatuku,’sheansweredassoonaswewereoutofhearingofthemen。’IamofthepeopleofNala,whosetribeistheButianatribe,andwholivesthere,’andshepointedoverthemountain。’AlsoIamoneofthewivesofWambe,’andhereyesflashedasshesaidthename。
\"’Andhowdidyoucomehere?’
\"’Onmyfeet,’sheansweredlaconically。
\"Wereachedthepacks,andundoingoneofthem,Iextractedahandfulofbeads。’Now,’Isaid,’agiftforagift。Handoverthemealies。’
\"Shetookthebeadswithoutevenlookingatthem,whichstruckmeascurious,andsettingthebasketofmealiesontheground,emptiedit。
\"Atthebottomofthebasketweresomecuriously—shapedgreenleaves,ratherliketheleavesofthegutta—perchatreeinshape,onlysomewhatthickerandofamorefleshysubstance。Asthoughbyhazard,thegirlpickedoneoftheseleavesoutofthebasketandsmeltit。
Thenshehandedittome。Itooktheleaf,andsupposingthatshewishedmetosmellitalso,wasabouttoobligeherbydoingso,whenmyeyefelluponsomecuriousredscratchesonthegreensurfaceoftheleaf。
\"’Ah,’saidthegirl(whosename,bytheway,wasMaiwa),speakingbeneathherbreath,’readthesigns,whiteman。’
\"WithoutansweringherIcontinuedtostareattheleaf。Ithadbeenscratchedorratherwrittenuponwithasharptool,suchasanail,andwhereverthisinstrumenthadtouchedit,theacidjuiceoozingthroughtheouterskinhadturnedarustybloodcolour。PresentlyI
foundthebeginningofthescrawl,andreadthisinEnglish,andcoveringthesurfaceoftheleafandoftwoothersthatwereinthebasket。
\"’IhearthatawhitemanishuntingintheMatukucountry。ThisistowarnhimtoflyoverthemountaintoNala。Wambesendsanimpiatdaybreaktoeathimup,becausehehashuntedbeforebringinghongo。ForGod’ssake,whoeveryouare,trytohelpme。IhavebeentheslaveofthisdevilWambefornearlysevenyears,andambeatenandtorturedcontinually。Hemurderedalltherestofus,butkeptmebecauseIcouldworkiron。Maiwa,hiswife,takesthis;sheisflyingtoNalaherfatherbecauseWambekilledherchild。TrytogetNalatoattackWambe;Maiwacanguidethemoverthemountain。Youwon’tcomefornothing,forthestockadeofWambe’sprivatekraalismadeofelephants’tusks。ForGod’ssake,don’tdesertme,orIshallkillmyself。Icanbearthisnolonger。
\"’JohnEvery。’
\"’Greatheavens!’Igasped。’Every!——why,itmustbemyoldfriend。’
Thegirl,orratherthewomanMaiwa,pointedtotheothersideoftheleaf,wheretherewasmorewriting。Itranthus——’IhavejustheardthatthewhitemaniscalledMacumazahn。Ifso,itmustbemyfriendQuatermain。PrayHeavenitis,forIknowhewon’tdesertanoldchuminsuchafixasIam。Itisn’tthatI’mafraidofdying,Idon’tcareifIdie,butIwanttogetachanceatWambefirst。’
\"’No,oldboy,’thoughtItomyself,’itisn’tlikelythatIamgoingtoleaveyoutherewhilethereisachanceofgettingyouout。Ihaveplayedfoxbeforenow——there’sstilladoubleortwoleftinme。I
mustmakeaplan,that’sall。Andthenthere’sthatstockadeoftusks。
Iamnotgoingtoleavethateither。’ThenIspoketothewoman。
\"’YouarecalledMaiwa?’
\"’Itisso。’
\"’YouarethedaughterofNalaandthewifeofWambe?’
\"’Itisso。’
\"’YouflyfromWambetoNala?’
\"’Ido。’
\"’Whydoyoufly?Stay,Iwouldgiveanorder,’——andcallingtoGobo,Iorderedhimtogetthemenreadyforinstantdeparture。Thewoman,who,asIhavesaid,wasquiteyoungandveryhandsome,putherhandintoalittlepouchmadeofantelopehidewhichsheworefastenedroundthewaist,andtomyhorrordrewfromitthewitheredhandofachild,whichevidentlyhadbeencarefullydriedinthesmoke。
\"’Iflyforthiscause,’sheanswered,holdingthepoorlittlehandtowardsme。’Seenow,Iboreachild。Wambewasitsfather,andforeighteenmonthsthechildlivedandIlovedit。ButWambelovesnothischildren;hekillsthemall。Hefearslesttheyshouldgrowuptoslayonesowicked,andhewouldhavekilledthischildalso,butI
beggeditslife。Oneday,somesoldierspassingthehutsawthechildandsalutedhim,callinghimthe\"chiefwhosoonshallbe。\"Wambeheard,andwasmad。Hesmotethebabe,anditwept。Thenhesaidthatitshouldweepforgoodcause。Amongthethingsthathehadstolenfromthewhitemenwhomheslewisatrapthatwillholdlions。Sostrongisthetrapthatfourmenmuststandonit,twooneitherside,beforeitcanbeopened。’\"
HereoldQuatermainbrokeoffsuddenly。
\"Lookhere,youfellows,\"hesaid,\"Ican’tbeartogoonwiththispartofthestory,becauseInevercouldstandeitherseeingortalkingofthesufferingsofchildren。Youcanguesswhatthatdevildid,andwhatthepoormotherwasforcedtowitness。Wouldyoubelieveit,shetoldmethetalewithoutatremor,inthemostmatter—of—factway。OnlyInoticedthathereyelidquiveredallthetime。
\"’Well,’Isaid,asunconcernedlyasthoughIhadbeentalkingofthedeathofalamb,thoughinwardlyIwassickwithhorrorandboilingwithrage,’andwhatdoyoumeantodoaboutthematter,Maiwa,wifeofWambe?’
\"’Imeantodothis,whiteman,’sheanswered,drawingherselfuptoherfullheight,andspeakingintonesashardassteelandcoldasice——’Imeantowork,andwork,andwork,tobringthistopass,andtobringthattopass,untilatlengthitcomestopassthatwiththeselivingeyesIbeholdWambedyingthedeaththathegavetohischildandmychild。’
\"’Wellsaid,’Ianswered。
\"’Ay,wellsaid,Macumazahn,wellsaid,andnoteasilyforgotten。Whocouldforget,oh,whocouldforget?Seewherethisdeadhandrestsagainstmyside;soonceitrestedwhenalive。Andnow,thoughitisdead,noweverynightitcreepsfromitsnestandstrokesmyhairandclaspsmyfingersinitstinypalm。Everynightitdoesthis,fearinglestIshouldforget。Oh,mychild!mychild!tendaysagoIheldtheetomybreast,andnowthisaloneremainsofthee,’andshekissedthedeadhandandshivered,butneverateardidsheweep。
\"’Seenow,’shewenton,’thewhiteman,theprisoneratWambe’skraal,hewaskindtome。Helovedthechildthatisdead,yes,heweptwhenitsfatherslewit,andattheriskofhislifetoldWambe,myhusband——ah,yes,myhusband!——thatwhichheis!Hetooitwaswhomadeaplan。Hesaidtome,\"Go,Maiwa,afterthecustomofthypeople,gopurifythyselfinthebushalone,havingtouchedadeadone。SaytoWambethougoesttopurifythyselfaloneforfifteendays,accordingtothecustomofthypeople。Thenflytothyfather,Nala,andstirhimuptowaragainstWambeforthesakeofthechildthatisdead。\"Thisthenhesaid,andhiswordsseemedgoodtome,andthatsamenightereIlefttopurifymyselfcamenewsthatawhitemanhuntedinthecountry,andWambe,beingmadwithdrink,grewverywrath,andgaveordersthatanimpishouldbegatheredtoslaythewhitemanandhispeopleandseizehisgoods。Thendidthe\"SmiterofIron\"(Every)writethemessageonthegreenleaves,andbidmeseektheeout,andshowforththematter,thatthoumightestsavethyselfbyflight;andbehold,thisthinghaveIdone,Macumazahn,thehunter,theSlayerofElephants。’
\"’Ah,’Isaid,’Ithankyou。AndhowmanymenbethereintheimpiofWambe?’
\"’Ahundredofmenandhalfahundred。’
\"’Andwhereistheimpi?’
\"’Theretothenorth。Itfollowsonthyspoor。Isawitpassyesterday,butmyselfIguessedthatthouwouldstbenighertothemountain,andcamethisway,andfoundthee。To—morrowatthedaybreaktheslayerswillbehere。’
\"’Verypossibly,’Ithoughttomyself;’buttheywon’tfindMacumazahn。Ihavehalfamindtoputsomestrychnineintothecarcasesofthoseelephantsfortheirespecialbenefitthough。’Iknewthattheywouldstoptoeattheelephants,asindeedtheydid,toourgreatgain,butIabandonedtheideaofpoisoningthem,becauseIwasrathershortofstrychnine。\"
\"Orbecauseyoudidnotliketoplaythetrick,Quatermain?\"I
suggestedwithalaugh。
\"IsaidbecauseIhadnotenoughstrychnine。Itwouldtakeagreatdealofstrychninetopoisonthreeelephantseffectually,\"answeredtheoldgentlemantestily。
Isaidnothingfurther,butIsmiled,knowingthatoldAllancouldneverhaveresortedtosuchanartifice,howeverseverehisstrait。
Butthatwashisway;healwaysmadehimselfouttobeamostunmercifulperson。
\"Well,\"hewenton,\"atthatmomentGobocameupandannouncedthatwewerereadytomarch。’Iamgladthatyouareready,’Isaid,’becauseifyoudon’tmarch,andmarchquick,youwillnevermarchagain,thatisall。Wambehasanimpiouttokillus,anditwillbeherepresently。’
\"Goboturnedpositivelygreen,andhiskneesknockedtogether。’Ah,whatdidIsay?’heexclaimed。’FatewalksaboutlooseinWambe’scountry。’
\"’Verygood;nowallyouhavetodoistowalkalittlequickerthanhedoes。No,no,youdon’tleavethoseelephanttusksbehind——IamnotgoingtopartwiththemIcantellyou。’
\"Gobosaidnomore,buthastilydirectedthementotakeuptheirloads,andthenaskedwhichwayweweretorun。
\"’Ah,’IsaidtoMaiwa,’whichway?’
\"’There,’sheanswered,pointingtowardsthegreatmountainspurwhichtoweredupintotheskysomefortymilesaway,separatingtheterritoriesofNalaandWambe——’there,belowthatsmallpeak,isoneplacewheremenmaypass,andoneonly。Alsoitcaneasilybeblockedfromabove。Ifmenpassnotthere,thentheymustgoroundthegreatpeakofthemountain,twodays’journeyandhalfaday。’
\"’Andhowfaristhepeakfromus?’
\"’Allto—nightshallyouwalkandallto—morrow,andifyouwalkfast,atsunsetyoushallstandonthepeak。’
\"Iwhistled,forthatmeantafive—and—fortymilestrudgewithoutsleep。ThenIcalledtothementotakeeachofthemasmuchcookedelephant’smeatashecouldcarryconveniently。Ididthesamemyself,andforcedthewomanMaiwatoeatsomeaswewent。ThisIdidwithdifficulty,foratthattimesheseemedneithertosleepnoreatnorrest,sofiercelywasshesetonvengeance。
\"Thenwestarted,Maiwaguidingus。Aftergoingforahalf—hourovergraduallyrisingground,wefoundourselvesonthefurtheredgeofagreatbush—claddepressionsomethinglikethebottomofalake。Thisdepression,throughwhichwehadbeentravelling,wascoveredwithbushtoaverygreatextent,indeedalmostaltogetherso,exceptwhereitwaspittedwithgladessuchasthatwhereinIhadshottheelephants。
\"AtthetopofthisslopeMaiwahalted,andputtingherhandoverhereyeslookedback。Presentlyshetouchedmeonthearmandpointedacrosstheseaofforesttowardsacomparativelyvacantspaceofcountrysomesixorsevenmilesaway。Ilooked,andsuddenlyIsawsomethingflashintheredraysofthesettingsun。Apause,andthenanotherquickflash。
\"’Whatisit?’Iasked。
\"’ItisthespearsofWambe’simpi,andtheytravelfast,’sheansweredcoolly。
\"IsupposethatmyfaceshowedhowlittleIlikedthenews,forshewenton——
\"’Fearnot;theywillstaytofeastupontheelephants,andwhiletheyfeastweshalljourney。Wemayyetescape。’
\"Afterthatweturnedandpushedonagain,tillatlengthitgrewsodarkthatwehadtowaitfortherisingofthemoon,whichlostustime,thoughitgaveusrest。Fortunatelynoneofthemenhadseenthatominousflashingofthespears;iftheyhad,IdoubtifevenI
couldhavekeptcontrolofthem。Asitwas,theytravelledfasterthanIhadeverknownloadednativestogobefore,sothorough—pacedwastheirdesiretoseethelastofWambe’scountry。I,however,tooktheprecautiontomarchlastofall,fearinglesttheyshouldthrowawaytheirloadstolightenthemselves,or,worsestill,thetusks;forthesekindoffellowswouldbecapableofthrowinganythingawayiftheirownskinswereatstake。Ifthepious?neas,whosestoryyouwerereadingtometheothernight,hadbeenamongrelDelagoaBaynative,AnchiseswouldhavehadapoorchanceofgettingoutofTroy,thatis,ifhewasknowntohavemadeasatisfactorywill。
\"Atmoonrisewesetoutagain,andwithshortoccasionalhaltstravelledtilldawn,whenwewereforcedtorestandeat。Startingoncemore,abouthalf—pastfive,wecrossedtheriveratnoon。Thenbeganthelongtoilsomeascentthroughthickbush,thesameinwhichI
shotthebullbuffalo,onlysometwentymilestothewestofthatspot,andnotmorethantwenty—fivemilesonthehithersideofWambe’skraal。Thereweresixorsevenmilesofthisdensebush,andhardworkitwastogetthroughit。Nextcameabeltofscatteredforestwhichwaseasiertopass,though,inrevenge,thegroundwassteeper。Thiswasabouttwomileswide,andwepasseditbyaboutfourintheafternoon。Abovethisscatteredbushlayalongsteepslopeofboulder—strewnground,whichranuptothefootofthelittlepeaksomethreemilesaway。Asweemerged,footsoreandweary,ontothisinhospitableplain,someofthemenlookingroundcaughtsightofthespearsofWambe’simpiadvancingrapidlynotmorethanamilebehindus。
\"Atfirsttherewasapanic,andthebearerstriedtothrowofftheirloadsandrun,butIharanguedthem,callingouttothemthatcertainlyIwouldshootthefirstmanwhodidsoandthatiftheywouldbuttrustinmeIwouldbringthemthroughthemess。Now,eversinceIhadkilledthosethreeelephantssingle—handed,Ihadgainedgreatinfluenceoverthesemen,andtheylistenedtome。Sooffwewentashardaseverwecouldgo——themembersoftheAlpineClubwouldnothavebeeninitwithus。Wemadethebouldersburn,asaFrenchmanwouldsay。
\"Whenwehaddoneaboutamilethespearsbegantoemergefromthebeltofscatteredbush,andthewhoopoftheirbearersastheyviewedusbrokeuponourears。Quickasourpacehadbeenbefore,itgrewmuchquickernow,forterrorlentwingstomygallantcrew。Buttheyweresorelytired,andtheloadswereheavy,sothatrun,orratherclimb,aswewould,Wambe’ssoldiers,ascrubby—lookinglotofmenarmedwithbigspearsandsmallshields,butwithoutplumes,climbedconsiderablyfaster。Thelastmileofthatpleasingchasewaslikeafoxhunt,webeingthefox,andalwaysinview。WhatastonishedmewastheextraordinaryenduranceandactivityshownbyMaiwa。Sheneverevenflagged。Ithinkthatgirl’smusclesmusthavebeenmadeofiron,orperhapsitwasthestrengthofherwillthatsupportedher。Atanyrateshereachedthefootofthepeaksecond,poorGobo,whowasanexcellenthandatrunningaway,beingfirst。
\"PresentlyIcameuppanting,andglancedattheascent。Beforeuswasawallofrockaboutonehundredandfiftyfeetinheight,uponwhichthestratawerelaidsoastoformaseriesofprojectionssufficientlyresemblingstepstomaketheascenteasy,comparativelyspeaking,exceptatonespot,whereitwasnecessarytoclimboveraprojectingangleofcliffandbearalittletotheleft。Itwasnotareallydifficultplace,butwhatmadeitawkwardwas,thatimmediatelybeneaththisprojectiongapedadeepfissureordonga,onthebrinkofwhichwenowstood,originallydugout,nodoubt,bytherushofwaterfromthepeakandcliff。Thisgulfbeneathwouldbetryingtothenervesofaweak—headedclimberatthecriticalpoint,andsoitprovedintheresult。Theprojectingangleoncepassed,theremainderoftheascentwasverysimple。Atthesummit,however,thebrowofthecliffhungoverandwaspiercedbyasinglenarrowpathcutthroughitbywater,insuchfashionthatasingleboulderrolledintoitatthetopwouldmakethecliffquiteimpassabletomenwithoutropes。
\"AtthismomentWambe’ssoldierswereaboutathousandyardsfromus,soitwasevidentthatwehadnotimetolose。Iatonceorderedthementocommencetheascent,thegirlMaiwa,whowasfamiliarwiththepass,goingfirsttoshowthemtheway。Accordinglytheybegantomountwithalacrity,pushingandliftingtheirloadsinfrontofthem。
Whenthefirstofthem,ledbyMaiwa,reachedtheprojectingangle,theyputdowntheirloadsuponaledgeofrockandclamberedover。
Oncethere,bylyingontheirstomachsuponaboulder,theycouldreachtheloadswhichwereheldtothembythemenbeneath,andinthiswaydragthemovertheawkwardplace,whencetheywerecarriedeasilytothetop。
\"Butallofthistooktime,andmeanwhilethesoldierswerecomingupfast,screamingandbrandishingtheirbigspears。Theywerenowwithinaboutfourhundredyards,andseveralloads,togetherwithallthetusks,hadyettobegotovertherock。Iwasstillstandingatthebottomofthecliff,shoutingdirectionstothemenabove,butitoccurredtomethatitwouldsoonbetimetomove。Beforedoingso,however,Ithoughtthatitmightbewelltotryandproduceamoraleffectupontheadvancingenemy。InmyhandIheldaWinchesterrepeatingcarbine,butthedistancewastoogreatformetouseitwitheffect,soIturnedtoGobo,whowasshiveringwithterroratmyside,andhandinghimthecarbine,tookmyexpressfromhim。
\"Theenemywasnowaboutthreehundredandfiftyyardsaway,andtheexpresswasonlysightedtothreehundred。StillIknewthatitcouldbetrustedfortheextrafiftyyards。RunninginfrontofWambe’ssoldiersweretwomen——captains,Isuppose——oneofthemverytall。I
putupthethreehundredyardflap,andsittingdownwithmybackagainsttherock,Idrewalongbreathtosteadymyself,andcoveredthetallman,givinghimafullsight。FeelingthatIwasonhim,I
pulled,andbeforethesoundofthestrikingbulletcouldreachmyears,Isawthemanthrowuphisarmsandpitchforwardontohishead。Hiscompanionstoppeddead,givingmeafairchance。Irapidlycoveredhim,andfiredtheleftbarrel。Heturnedroundonce,andthensankdowninaheap。Thiscausedtheenemytohesitate——theyhadneverseenmenkilledatsuchadistancebefore,andthoughtthattherewassomethinguncannyabouttheperformance。Takingadvantageofthelull,IgavetheexpressbacktoGobo,andslingingtheWinchesterrepeaterovermybackIbegantoclimbthecliff。
\"Whenwereachedtheprojectinganglealltheloadswereover,butthetusksstillhadtobepassedup,andowingtotheirweightandthesmoothnessoftheirsurface,thiswasaverydifficulttask。OfcourseIoughttohaveabandonedthetusks;oftenandoftenhaveIsincereproachedmyselffornotdoingso。Indeed,Ithinkthatmyobstinacyaboutthemwasdownrightsinful,butIwasalwaysobstinateaboutsuchthings,andIcouldnotbeartheideaofleavingthosesplendidtuskswhichhadcostmesomuchpainsanddangertocomeby。Well,itnearlycostmemylifealso,anddidcostpoorGobohis,aswillbeseenshortly,tosaynothingofthelossinflictedbymyrifleontheenemy。WhenIreachedtheprojectionIfoundthatthemen,withtheirusualstupidity,weretryingtohandupthetuskspointfirst。Nowtheresultofthiswasthatthoseabovehadnothingtogripexcepttheroundpolishedsurfaceoftheivory,andinthepositioninwhichtheywere,thisdidnotgivethemsufficientholdtoenablethemtolifttheweight。Itoldthemtoreversethetusksandpushthemup,sothattheroughandhollowendscametothehandsofthemenabove。Thistheydid,andthefirsttwoweredraggedupinsafety。
\"Atthispoint,lookingbehindme,IsawtheMatukusstreaminguptheslopeinaroughextendedorder,andnotmorethanahundredyardsaway。CockingtheWinchesterIturnedandopenedfireonthem。Idon’tquiteknowhowmanyImissed,butIdoknowthatInevershotbetterinmylife。Ihadtokeepshiftingmyselffromoneenemytotheother,firingalmostwithoutgettingasight,thatis,bytheeyealone,afterthefashionoftheexpertswhobreakglassballs。Butquickastheworkwas,menfellthick,andbythetimethatIhademptiedthecarbineofitstwelvecartridges,forthemomenttheadvancewaschecked。Irapidlypushedinsomemorecartridges,andhardlyhadI
donesowhentheenemy,seeingthatwewereabouttoescapethemaltogether,cameononcemorewithatremendousyell。Bythistimethetwohalvesofthesingletuskofthegreatbullaloneremainedtobepassedup。Ifiredandfiredaseffectivelyasbefore,butnotwithstandingallthatIcoulddo,somemenescapedmyhailofbulletsandbegantoascendthecliff。Presentlymyriflewasagainempty。Islungitovermyback,and,drawingmyrevolver,turnedtorunforit,theattackersbeingnowquiteclose。AsIdidso,aspearstruckthecliffclosetomyhead。
\"Thelasthalfofthetuskwasnowvanishingovertherock,andIsungouttoGoboandtheothermanwhohadbeenpushingituptovanishafterit。Gobo,poorfellow,requirednosecondinvitation;indeed,hishastewashisundoing。Hewentattheprojectingrockwithabound。Theendofthetuskwasstillhangingover,andinsteadofgraspingtherockhecaughtatit。Ittwistedinhishand——heslipped——hefell;withonewildshriekhevanishedintotheabyssbeneath,hisfallingbodybrushingmeasitpassed。Foramomentwestoodaghast,andpresentlythedullthudofhisfallsmoteheavilyuponourears。Poorfellow,hehadmettheFatewhich,ashedeclared,walkedaboutlooseinWambe’scountry。Thenwithanoaththeremainingmansprungattherockandclamberedoveritinsafety。Aghastattheawfulnessofwhathadhappened,Istoodstill,tillIsawthegreatbladeofaMatukuspearpassupbetweenmyfeet。Thatbroughtmetomysenses,andIbegantoclamberuptherocklikeacat。Iwashalfwayroundit。AlreadyIhadclaspedthehandofthatbravegirlMaiwa,whocamedowntohelpme,themenhavingscrambledforwardwiththeivory,whenIfeltsomeoneseizemyankle。
\"’Pull,Maiwa,pull,’Igasped,andshecertainlydidpull。Maiwawasaverymuscularwoman,andneverbeforedidIappreciatetheadvantagesofthephysicaldevelopmentoffemalessokeenly。Shetuggedatmyleftarm,thesavagebelowtuggedatmyrightleg,tillI
begantorealizethatsomethingmustgivewayerelong。LuckilyI
retainedmypresenceofmind,likethemanwhothrewhismother—in—lawoutofthewindow,andcarriedthemattressdown—stairs,whenafirebrokeoutinhishouse。Myrighthandwasstillfree,andinitIheldmyrevolver,whichwassecuredtomywristbyaleatherthong。Thepistolwascocked,andIsimplypointeditdownwardsandfired。Theresultwasinstantaneous——andsofarasIamconcerned,mostsatisfactory。Thebullethitthemanbeneathmesomewhere,IamsureI
don’tknowwhere;atanyrate,heletgoofmylegandplungedheadlongintothegulfbeneathtojoinGobo。InanothermomentIwasonthetopoftherock,andgoinguptheremainingstepslikealamplighter。Asingleothersoldierappearedinpursuit,butoneofmyboysatthetopfiredmyelephantgunathim。Idon’tknowifhehithimoronlyfrightenedhim;atanyrate,hevanishedwhencehecame。I
doknow,however,thatheverynearlyhit/me/,forIfeltthewindofthebullet。
\"Anotherthirtyseconds,andIandthewomanMaiwawereatthetopofthecliffpanting,butsafe。
\"Mymen,beingdirectedtheretobyMaiwa,hadmostfortunatelyrolledupsomebigboulderswhichlayabout,andwiththesewesoonmanagedtoblockthepassagethroughtheoverhangingridgeofrockinsuchfashionthatthesoldiersbelowcouldnotpossiblyclimboverit。
Indeed,sofarasIcouldsee,theydidnoteventrytodoso——theirheartwasturnedtofat,astheZulussay。
\"Thenhavingrestedafewmomentswetookuptheloads,includingthetusksofivorythathadcostussodear,andinsilencemarchedonforacoupleofmilesormore,tillwereachedapatchofdensebush。Andhere,beingutterlyexhausted,wecampedforthenight,takingtheprecaution,however,ofsettingaguardtowatchagainstanyattemptatsurprise。
VI
THEPLANOFCAMPAIGN
\"Notwithstandingallthatwehadgonethrough,perhapsindeedonaccountofit,forIwasthoroughlywornout,IsleptthatnightassoundlyaspoorGobo,roundwhosecrushedbodythehy?naswouldnowbeprowling。RisingrefreshedatdawnwewentonourwaytowardsNala’skraal,whichwereachedatnightfall。ItisbuiltonopengroundaftertheZulufashion,inaringfenceandwithbeehivehuts。Thecattlekraalisbehindandalittletotheleft。Indeed,bothfromtheirhabitsandtheirtalkitwaseasytoseethattheseButianabelongtothatsectionoftheBantupeoplewhich,sinceT’Chaka’stime,hasbeenknownastheZulurace。WedidnotseethechiefNalathatnight。HisdaughterMaiwawentontohisprivatehutsassoonaswearrived,andveryshortlyafterwardsoneofhisheadmencametousbringingasheepandsomemealiesandmilkwithhim。’Thechiefsentusgreeting,’hesaid,’andwouldseeusonthemorrow。’Meanwhilehewasorderedtobringustoaplaceofresting,whereweandourgoodsshouldbesafeandundisturbed。AccordinglyheledthewaytosomeverygoodhutsjustoutsideNala’sprivateenclosure,andherewesleptcomfortably。
\"Onthemorrowabouteighto’clocktheheadmancameagain,andsaidthatNalarequestedthatIwouldvisithim。Ifollowedhimintotheprivateenclosureandwasintroducedtothechief,afine—lookingmanofaboutfifty,withverydelicately—shapedhandsandfeet,andarathernervousmouth。Thechiefwasseatedonatannedox—hideoutsidehishut。ByhissidestoodhisdaughterMaiwa,andsquattedontheirhaunchesroundhimweresometwentyheadmenorIndunas,whosenumberwascontinuallyaddedtobyfresharrivals。ThesemensalutedmeasI
entered,andthechiefroseandtookmyhand,orderingastooltobebroughtformetositon。Whenthiswasdone,withmucheloquenceandnativecourtesyhethankedmeforprotectinghisdaughterinthepainfulanddangerouscircumstancesinwhichshefoundherselfplaced,andalsocomplimentedmeveryhighlyuponwhathewaspleasedtocallthebraverywithwhichIhaddefendedthepassintherocks。I
answeredinappropriateterms,sayingthatitwastoMaiwaherselfthatthanksweredue,forhaditnotbeenforherwarningandknowledgeofthecountryweshouldnothavebeenhereto—day;whileastothedefenceofthepass,Iwasfightingformylife,andthatputheartintome。
\"Thesecourtesiesconcluded,NalacalleduponhisdaughterMaiwatotellhertaletotheheadmen,andthisshedidmostsimplyandeffectively。SheremindedthemthatshehadgoneasanunwillingbridetoWambe——thatnocattlehadbeenpaidforher,becauseWambehadthreatenedwarifshewasnotsentasafreegift。SinceshehadenteredthekraalofWambeherdayshadbeendaysofheavinessandhernightsnightsofweeping。Shehadbeenbeaten,shehadbeenneglectedandmadetodotheworkofalow—bornwife——she,achief’sdaughter。
Shehadborneachild,andthiswasthestoryofthechild。Thenamidstadeadsilenceshetoldthemtheawfultalewhichshehadalreadynarratedtome。Whenshehadfinished,herhearersgavealoudejaculation。’/Ou!/’theysaid,’/ou!/Maiwa,daughterofNala!’
\"’Ay,’shewentonwithflashingeyes,’ay,itistrue;mymouthisasfulloftruthasaflowerofhoney,andfortearsmyeyesarelikethedewuponthegrassatdawn。ItistrueIsawthechilddie——hereistheproofofit,councillors,’andshedrewforththelittledeadhandandhelditbeforethem。
\"’/Ou!/’theysaidagain,’/ou!/itisthedeadhand!’
\"’Yes,’shecontinued,’itisthedeadhandofmydeadchild,andI
bearitwithmethatImayneverforget,neverforoneshorthour,thatIlivethatImayseeWambedie,andbeavenged。Willyoubearit,myfather,thatyourdaughterandyourdaughter’schildshouldbesotreatedbyaMatuku?Willyebearit,menofmyownpeople?’
\"’No,’saidanoldInduna,rising,’itisnottobeborne。EnoughhavewesufferedatthehandsoftheseMatukudogsandtheirloud—tonguedchief;letusputittotheissue。’
\"’Itisnottobeborneindeed,’saidNala;’buthowcanwemakeheadagainstsogreatapeople?’
\"’Askofhim——askofMacumazahn,thewisewhiteman,’saidMaiwa,pointingatme。
\"’HowcanweovercomeWambe,Macumazahnthehunter?’
\"’Howdoesthejackaloverreachthelion,Nala?’
\"’Bycleverness,Macumazahn。’
\"’SoshallyouovercomeWambe,Nala。’
\"Atthismomentaninterruptionoccurred。AmanenteredandsaidthatmessengershadarrivedfromWambe。
\"’Whatistheirmessage?’askedNala。
\"’TheycometoaskthatthydaughterMaiwabesentback,andwithherthewhitehunter。’
\"’HowshallImakeanswertothis,Macumazahn?’saidNala,whenthemanhadwithdrawn。
\"’Thusshaltthouanswer,’Isaidafterreflection;’saythatthewomanshallbesentandIwithher,andthenbidthemessengersbegone。Stay,Iwillhidemyselfhereinthehutthatthemenmaynotseeme,’andIdid。
\"Shortlyafterwards,throughacrackinthehut,Isawthemessengersarrive,andtheyweregreattruculent—lookingfellows。Therewerefourofthem,andevidentlytheyhadtravellednightandday。TheyenteredwithaswaggerandsquatteddownbeforeNala。
\"’Yourbusiness?’saidNala,frowning。
\"’WecomefromWambe,bearingtheordersofWambetoNalahisservant,’answeredthespokesmanoftheparty。
\"’Speak,’saidNala,withacurioustwitchofhisnervous—lookingmouth。
\"’ThesearethewordsofWambe:\"Sendbackthewoman,mywife,whohasrunawayfrommykraal,andsendwithherthewhitemanwhohasdaredtohuntinmycountrywithoutmyleave,andtoslaymysoldiers。\"
ThesearethewordsofWambe。’
\"’AndifIsayIwillnotsendthem?’askedNala。
\"’ThenonbehalfofWambewedeclarewaruponyou。Wambewilleatyouup。Hewillwipeyouout;yourkraalsshallbestampedflat——so,’andwithanexpressivegesturehedrewhishandacrosshismouthtoshowhowcompletewouldbetheannihilationofthatchiefwhodaredtodefyWambe。
\"’Theseareheavywords,’saidNala。’LetmetakecounselbeforeI
answer。’
\"Thenfollowedalittlepieceofactingthatwasreallyverycreditabletotheuntutoredsavagemind。Theheraldswithdrew,butnotoutofsight,andNalawentthroughtheshowofearnestlyconsultinghisIndunas。ThegirlMaiwatooflungherselfathisfeet,andappearedtoweepandimplorehisprotection,whilehewrunghishandsasthoughindoubtandtribulationofmind。Atlengthhesummonedthemessengerstodrawnear,andaddressedthem,whileMaiwasobbedveryrealisticallyathisside。
\"’Wambeisagreatchief,’saidNala,’andthiswomanishiswife,whomhehasarighttoclaim。Shemustreturntohim,butherfeetaresorewithwalking,shecannotcomenow。IneightdaysfromthisdaysheshallbedeliveredatthekraalofWambe;Iwillsendherwithapartyofmymen。Asforthewhitehunterandhismen,Ihavenoughttodowiththem,andcannotanswerfortheirmisdeeds。Theyhavewanderedhitherunbiddenbyme,andIwilldeliverthembackwhencetheycame,thatWambemayjudgethemaccordingtohislaw;theyshallbesentwiththegirl。Foryou,goyourways。Foodshallbegivenyouwithoutthekraal,andapresentforWambeinatonementoftheill—doingofmydaughter。Ihavespoken。’
\"AtfirsttheheraldsseemedinclinedtoinsistuponMaiwa’saccompanyingthemthenandthere,butonbeingshowntheswollenconditionofherfeet,ultimatelytheygaveupthepointanddeparted。