the ivory child-第40部分
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to my horror that the roots were loosening。 I heard some of them snap；
and a crack appeared in the ground not far from the bole。 Fortunately
Jana never noted these symptoms； for abandoning a plan which he
considered unavailing； he stood for a while swaying his trunk and lost
in gentle thought。
〃Hans；〃 I whispered； 〃load the rifle quick！ I can get him in the spine
or the other eye。〃
〃Wet powder won't go off； Baas；〃 groaned Hans。 〃The water got to it in
the river。〃
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃and it is all your fault for making me shoot at him
when I could take no aim。〃
〃It would have been just the same； Baas； for the rifle went under
water also when we fell from the camel； and the cap would have been
damp； and perhaps the powder too。 Also the shot made Jana stop for a
moment。〃
This was true； but it was maddening to be obliged to sit there with an
empty gun； when if I had but one charge； or even my pistol； I was sure
that I could have blinded or crippled this satanic pachyderm。
A few minutes later Jana played his last card。 Coming quite close to
the trunk of the tree he reared himself up as before； but this time
stretched out his forelegs so that these and his body were supported
on the broad bole。 Then he elongated his trunk and with it began to
break off boughs which grew between us and him。
〃I don't think he can reach us；〃 I said doubtfully to Hans； 〃that is；
unless he brings a stone to stand on。〃
〃Oh！ Baas； pray be silent；〃 answered Hans； 〃or he will understand and
fetch one。〃
Although the idea seemed absurd； on the whole I thought it well to
take the hint； for who knew how much this experienced beast did or did
not understand？ Then； as we could go no higher； we wriggled as far as
we dared along our boughs and waited。
Presently Jana； having finished his clearing operations； began to
lengthen his trunk to its full measure。 Literally； it seemed to expand
like a telescope or an indiarubber ring。 Out it came； foot after foot；
till its snapping tip was waving within a few inches of us； just short
of my foot and Han's head； or rather felt hat。 One final stretch and
he reached the hat； which he removed with a flourish and thrust into
the red cavern of his mouth。 As it appeared no more I suppose he ate
it。 This loss of his hat moved Hans to fury。 Hurling horrible curses
at Jana he drew his butcher's knife and made ready。
Once more the sinuous brown trunk elongated itself。 Evidently Jana had
got a better hold with his hind legs this time； or perhaps had
actually wriggled himself a few inches up the tree。 At any rate I saw
to my dismay that there was every prospect of my making a second
acquaintance with that snapping tip。 The end of the trunk was lying
along my bough like a huge brown snake and creeping up； up； up。
〃He'll get us；〃 I muttered。
Hans said nothing but leaned forward a little； holding on with his
left hand。 Next instant in the light of the rising sun I saw a knife
flash； saw also that the point of it had been driven through the lower
lip of Jana's trunk； pinning it to the bough like a butterfly to a
board。
My word！ what a commotion ensued！ Up the trunk came a scream which
nearly blew me away。 Then Jana； with a wriggling motion； tried to
unnail himself as gently as possible； for it was clear that the knife
point hurt him； but could not do so because Hans still held the handle
and had driven the blade deep into the wood。 Lastly he dragged himself
downwards with such energy that something had to go； that something
being the skin and muscle of the lower lip； which was cut clean
through； leaving the knife erect in the bough。
Over he went backwards； a most imperial cropper。 Then he picked
himself up； thrust the tip of his trunk into his mouth； sucked it as
one does a cut finger； and finally； roaring in defeated rage； fled
into the river； which he waded； and back upon his tracks towards his
own home。 Yes； off he went； Hans screaming curses and demands that he
should restore his hat to him； and very seldom in all my life have I
seen a sight that I thought more beautiful than that of his whisking
tail。
〃Now； Baas；〃 chuckled Hans； 〃the old devil has got a sore nose as well
as a sore eye by which to remember us。 And； Baas； I think we had
better be going before he has time to think and comes back with a long
stick to knock us out of this tree。〃
So we went； in double…quick time I can assure you； or at any rate as
fast as my stiff limbs and general condition would allow。 Fortunately
we had now no doubt as to our direction； since standing up through the
mists of dawn with the sunbeams resting on its forest…clad crest； we
could clearly see the strange； tumulus…shaped hill which the White
Kendah called the Holy Mount； the Home of the Child。 It appeared to be
about twenty miles away； but in reality was a good deal farther； for
when we had walked for several hours it seemed almost as distant as
ever。
In truth that was a dreadful trudge。 Not only was I exhausted with all
the terrors I had passed and our long midnight flight； but the wound
where Jana had pinched out a portion of my frame； inflamed by the
riding； had now grown stiff and intolerably sore； so that every step
gave me pain which sometimes culminated in agony。 Moreover； it was no
use giving in； foodless as we were； for Mar？t had carried the
provisions； and with the chance of Jana returning to look us up。 So I
stuck to it and said nothing。
For the first ten miles the country seemed uninhabited； doubtless it
was too near the borders of the Black Kendah to be popular as a place
of residence。 After this we saw herds of cattle and a few camels；
apparently untended； perhaps their guards were hidden away in the long
grass。 Then we came to some fields of mealies that were； I noticed；
quite untouched by the hailstorm； which； it would seem； had confined
its attentions to the land of the Black Kendah。 Of these we ate
thankfully enough。 A little farther on we perceived huts perched on an
inaccessible place in a kloof。 Also their inhabitants perceived us；
for they ran away as though in a great fright。
Still we did not try to approach the huts； not knowing how we should
be received。 After my sojourn in Simba Town I had become possessed of
a love of life in the open。
For another two hours I limped forward with pain and griefby now I
was leaning on Hans' shoulderup an endless； uncultivated rise
clothed with euphorbias and fern…like cycads。 At length we reached its
top and found ourselves within a rifle shot of a fenced native
village。 I suppose that its inhabitants had been warned of our coming
by runners from the huts I have mentioned。 At any rate the moment we
appeared the men； to the number of thirty or more； poured out of the
south gate armed with spears and other weapons and proceeded to ring
us round and behave in a very threatening manner。 I noticed at once
that； although most of them were comparatively light in colour； some
of these men partook of the negro characteristics of the Black Kendah
from whom we had escaped； to such an extent indeed that this blood was
clearly predominant in them。 Still； it was also clear that they were
deadly foes of this people； for when I shouted out to them that we
were the friends of Har？t and those who worshipped the Child； they
yelled back that we were liars。 No friends of the Child； they said；
came from the country of the Black Kendah； who worshipped the devil
Jana。 I tried to explain that least of all men in the world did we
worship Jana； who had been hunting us for hours； but they would not
listen。
〃You are spies of Simba's； the smell of Jana is upon you〃 （this may
have been true enough）； they yelled； adding： 〃We will kill you； white…
faced goat。 We will kill you； little yellow monkey； for none who are
not enemies come here from the land of the Black Kendah。〃
〃Kill us then；〃 I answered； 〃and bring the curse of the Child upon
you。 Bring famine； bring hail； bring war！〃
These words were； I think； well chosen； at any rate they induced a
pause in their murderous intentions。 For a while they hesitated； all
talking together at once。 At last the advocates of violence appeared
to get the upper hand； and once more a number of the men began to
dance about us； waving their spears and crying out that we must die
who came from the Black Kendah。
I sat down upon the ground； for I was so exhausted that at the time I
did not greatly care whether I died or lived； while Hans drew his
knife and stood over me； cursing them as he had cursed at Jana。 By
slow degrees they drew nearer and nearer。 I watched them with a kind
of idle curiosity； believing that the moment when they came within
actual spear…thrust would be our last； but； as I have said； not
greatly caring because of my mental and physical exhaustion。
I had already closed my eyes that I might not see the flash of the
falling steel； when an exclamation from Hans caused me to open them
again。 Following the line of the knife with which he pointed； I
perceived a troop of men on camels emerging from the gates of the
village at full speed。 In front of these； his white garments
fluttering on the wind； rode a bearded and dignified person in whom I
recognized Har？t； Har？t himself； waving a spear and shouting as he
came。 Our assailants heard and saw him also； then flung down their
weapons as though in dismay either at his appearance or his words；
which I could not catch。 Har？t guided his rushing camel straight at
the man who I presume was their leader； and struck at him with his
spear； as though in fury； wounding him in the shoulder and causing him
to fall to the ground。 As he struck he called out：
〃Dog！ Would you harm the guests of the Child？〃
Then I heard no more because I fainted away。
CHAPTER XV
THE DWELLER IN THE CAVE
After this it seemed to me that I
