the land of footprints-第22部分
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me。 When the head of our safari reached the spot Sulimani left the ranks and； his load still aloft danced solemnly in front of Cuninghame； chanting something in a loud tone of voice。 Then with a final deep 〃Jambo！〃 to his old master he rejoined the safari。 When the day had stretched to weariness and the men had fallen to a sullen plodding； Sulimani's vigorous song could always set the safari sticks tapping the sides of the chop boxes。
He carried part of the tent； and the next best men were entrusted with the cook outfit and our personal effects。 It was a point of honour with these men to be the first in camp。 The rear； the very extreme and straggling rear； was brought up by worthless porters with loads of cornmeal…and the weary askaris whose duty it was to keep astern and herd the lot in。
XIV。 A DAY ON THE ISIOLA
Early one morning…we were still on the Isiola…we set forth on our horses to ride across the rolling； brush…grown plain。 Our intention was to proceed at right angles to our own little stream until we had reached the forest growth of another； which we could dimly make out eight or ten miles distant。 Billy went with us； so there were four a…horseback。 Behind us trudged the gunbearers； and the syces； and after them straggled a dozen or fifteen porters。
The sun was just up； and the air was only tepid as yet。 From patches of high grass whirred and rocketed grouse of two sorts。 They were so much like our own ruffed grouse and prairie chicken that I could with no effort imagine myself once more a boy in the coverts of the Middle West。 Only before us we could see the stripes of trotting zebra disappearing； and catch the glint of light on the bayonets of the oryx。 Two giraffes galumphed away to the right。 Little grass antelope darted from clump to clump of grass。 Once we saw gerenuk…oh； far away in an impossible distance。 Of course we tried to stalk them； and as usual we failed。 The gerenuk we had come to look upon as our Lesser Hoodoo。
The beast is a gazelle about as big as a black…tailed deer。 His peculiarity is his excessively long neck； a good deal on the giraffe order。 With it he crops browse above high tide mark of other animals； especially when as often happens he balances cleverly on his hind legs。 By means of it also he can； with his body completely concealed； look over the top of ordinary cover and see you long before you have made out his inconspicuous little head。 Then he departs。 He seems to have a lamentable lack of healthy curiosity about you。 In that respect he should take lessons from the kongoni。 After that you can follow him as far as you please； you will get only glimpses at three or four hundred yards。
We remounted sadly and rode on。 The surface of the ground was rather soft； scattered with round rocks the size of a man's head； and full of pig holes。
〃Cheerful country to ride over at speed；〃 remarked Billy。 Later in the day we had occasion to remember that statement。
The plains led us ever on。 First would be a band of scattered brush growing singly and in small clumps： then a little open prairie； then a narrow； long grass swale； then perhaps a low； long hill with small single trees and rough； volcanic footing。 Ten thousand things kept us interested。 Game was everywhere； feeding singly； in groups； in herds； game of all sizes and descriptions。 The rounded ears of jackals pointed at us from the grass。 Hundreds of birds balanced or fluttered about us； birds of all sizes from the big ground hornbill to the littlest hummers and sun birds。 Overhead； across the wonderful variegated sky of Africa the broad…winged carrion hunters and birds of prey wheeled。 In all our stay on the Isiola we had not seen a single rhino track； so we rode quite care free and happy。
Finally； across a glade； not over a hundred and fifty yards away； we saw a solitary bull oryx standing under a bush。 B。 wanted an oryx。 We discussed this one idly。 He looked to be a decent oryx； but nothing especial。 However； he offered a very good shot； so B。； after some hesitation； decided to take it。 It proved to be by far the best specimen we shot； the horns measuring thirty…six and three fourths inches！ Almost immediately after； two of the rather rare striped hyenas leaped from the grass and departed rapidly over the top of a hill。 We opened fire； and F。 dropped one of them。 By the time these trophies were prepared； the sun had mounted high in the heavens； and it was getting hot。
Accordingly we abandoned that still distant river and swung away in a wide circle to return to camp。
Several minor adventures brought us to high noon and the heat of the day。 B。 had succeeded in drawing a prize； one of the Grevy's or mountain zebra。 He and the gunbearers engaged themselves with that； while we sat under the rather scanty shade of a small thorn tree and had lunch。 Here we had a favourable chance to observe that very common； but always wonderful phenomenon； the gathering of the carrion birds。 Within five minutes after the stoop of the first vulture above the carcass； the sky immediately over that one spot was fairly darkened with them。 They were as thick as midges…or as ducks used to be in California。 All sizes were there from the little carrion crows to the great dignified vultures and marabouts and eagles。 The small fry flopped and scolded； and rose and fell in a dense mass； the marabouts walked with dignified pace to and fro through the grass all about。 As far as the eye could penetrate the blue； it could make out more and yet more of the great soarers stooping with half bent wings。 Below we could see uncertainly through the shimmer of the mirage the bent forms of the men。
We ate and waited； and after a little we dozed。 I was awakened suddenly by a tremendous rushing roar； like the sound of a not too distant waterfall。 The group of men were plodding toward us carrying burdens。 And like plummets the birds were dropping straight down from the heavens； spreading wide their wings at the last moment to check their speed。 This made the roaring sound that had awakened me。
A wide spot in the shimmer showed black and struggling against the ground。 I arose and walked over； meeting halfway B。 and the men carrying the meat。 It took me probably about two minutes to reach the place where the zebra had been killed。 Hundreds； perhaps thousands； of the great birds were standing idly about； a dozen or so were flapping and scrambling in the centre。 I stepped into view。 With a mighty commotion they all took wing clumsily； awkwardly； reluctantly。 A trampled； bloody space and the larger bones； picked absolutely clean； was all that remained！ In less than two minutes the job had been done！
〃You're certainly good workmen！〃 I exclaimed； 〃but I wonder how you all make a living！〃
We started the men on to camp with the meat； and ourselves rested under the shade。 The day had been a full and interesting one； but we considered it as finished。 Remained only the hot journey back to camp。
After a half hour we mounted again and rode on slowly。 The sun was very strong and a heavy shimmer clothed the plain。 Through this shimmer we caught sight of something large and black and flapping。 It looked like a crow…or； better； a scare…crow…crippled； half flying； half running； with waving wings or arms； now dwindling； now gigantic as the mirage caught it up or let it drop。 As we watched； it developed； and we made it out to be a porter； clad in a long； ragged black overcoat； running zigzag through the bushes in our direction。
The moment we identified it we spurred our horses forward。 As my horse leaped； Memba Sasa snatched the Springfield from my left hand and forced the 405 Winchester upon me。 Clever Memba Sasa！ He no more than we knew what was up； but shrewdly concluded that whatever it was it needed a heavy gun。
As we galloped to meet him； the porter stopped。 We saw him to be a very long…legged； raggedy youth whom we had nicknamed the Marabout because of his exceedingly long； lean legs； the fact that his breeches were white； short and baggy； and because he kept his entire head shaved close。 He called himself Fundi； which means The Expert； a sufficient indication of his confidence in himself。
He awaited us leaning on his safari stick； panting heavily； the sweat running off his face in splashes。 〃Simba！〃* said he； and immediately set off on a long； easy lope ahead of us。 We pulled down to a trot and followed him。
*Lion
At the end of a half mile we made out a man up a tree。 Fundi； out of breath； stopped short and pointed to this man。 The latter； as soon as he had seen us； commenced to scramble down。 We spurred forward to find out where the lions had been last seen。
Then Billy covered herself with glory by seeing them first。 She apprised us of that fact with some excitement。 We saw the long； yellow bodies of two of them disappearing in the edge of the brush about three hundred yards away。 With a wild whoop we tore after them at a dead run。
Then began a wild ride。 Do you remember Billy's remark about the nature of the footing？ Before long we closed in near enough to catch occasional glimpses of the beasts； bounding easily along。 At that moment B。's horse went down in a heap。 None of us thought for a moment of pulling up。 I looked back to see B。 getting up again； and thought I caught fragments of encouraging…sounding language。 Then my horse went down。 I managed to hold my rifle clear； and to cling to the reins。 Did you ever try to get on a somewhat demoralized horse in a frantic hurry； when all your friends were getting farther away every minute； and so lessening your chances of being in the fun？ I began to understand perfectly B。's remarks of a moment before。 However； on I scrambled； and soon overtook the hunt。
We dodged in and out of bushes； and around and over holes。 Every few moments we would catch a glimpse of one of those silently bounding lions； and then we would let out a yell。 Also every few moments one or the other of us would go down in a heap； and would scramble up and curse； and remount hastily。 Billy had better luck。 She had no gun； and belonged a little in the rear anyway； but was coming along game as a badger for all that。
My own horse had the legs of the others quite easily； and for that reason I was ahead far enough to see the magni
