In the heart of the wild mountain scenery of the frontier a grim-looking fort had been built to keep the Kafirs in check. It was named Fort Wilshire, and a truly warlike place it was, with its high walls and cannon2, its red troops of the line, green rifles, and blue artillery3. Lying remote from civilised men, it was a dreary4 enough place to the troops stationed there, though, with that ready spirit of adaptation to circumstances which characterises the British soldier, the garrison5 dispelled6 some of its ennui7 by hunting.
At one period of the year, however, the little frontier fortress8 thoroughly9 changed its silent and solitary10 character. The Government, yielding at last to earnest entreaties11 and strong representations, had agreed to permit, under certain restrictions12, the opening of trade with the Kafirs. A periodical “fair” was established and appointed to be held under the guns of Fort Wilshire. The colonial traders, full of energy and thirsting for opportunity, took advantage of the “fair,” and assembled in hundreds, while the Kafirs, in a species of unbelieving surprise, met them in thousands to exchange wares13. It was a new idea to many of these black sons and daughters of nudity, that the horns which they used to throw away as useless were in reality valuable merchandise, and that the gum, which was to be had for the gathering14, could procure15 for them beads16 and buttons, and brass17-wire and cotton, with many other desirable things that caused their red mouths to water.
On the day in which we introduce the scene to the reader some of the colonial traders had already arrived at the fair. These were not all of the same calibre. Some, of small means, had commenced modestly with a shoulder-bundle and went through the new land, as peddlers and packmen in older lands had done before them. Others, with more means, had set up the horse-pack, or the cart, and all aspired18, while some had attained19, to the waggon20. These penetrated21 to every part of the frontier, supplying the Dutch boers with luxuries hitherto undreamed of, which, ere long, became necessities, obtaining from them sheep and cattle in exchange, with a fair proportion of their hoarded22 rix-daalers. The traders then returned to the towns, sold their stock, purchased fresh supplies, and went back to the interior. Thus was laid the foundation of a commerce which was destined23 in future years to become of great importance not only to the colony but to the world.
The opening of trade with the Kafirs had added materially to the prosperity of the traders, and those assembled at Fort Wilshire represented all the different classes.
Among the crowds who encamped under the fort guns, Stephen Orpin, the Wesleyan, represented those who stood on the first round of the mercantile ladder. Orpin was stout24 of limb, broad of shoulder, strong of heart, and empty of pocket; he therefore carried a pack in which were to be found not only gloves, neckerchiefs, and trinkets for the women, as well as gaudy25 waistcoats, etcetera, for the men, but New Testaments26, tracts27, and little books in the Dutch language wherewith Stephen hoped to do good to the souls of his customers. Orpin had come to the “fair” with the double view of trading and holding intercourse28 on spiritual things with the Kafirs. He longed to preach Christ, the crucified Saviour29, to the heathen. Of such men, thank God, there always have been, and we believe always will be, many in the world—men in regard to whom bigots are apt to say, “Lord, forbid him, for he followeth not with us,” but of whom the Lord said, “Forbid him not, for he that is not against us is on our part.”
Among those who had attained to the enviable ox-waggon were our friends John Skyd and Frank Dobson. Possessing a remnant of their means when they gave up farming, two of the brothers, James and Robert, established a small general store in Grahamstown, while John and Frank set up a joint30 waggon and took to hunting and trading on a large scale. Of course they bought all their supplies of brass-wire, beads and buttons, powder and shot etcetera, from the Skyd store, and sold their ivory, etcetera, at the same place, with mutual31 benefit.
It was a strange and stirring sight to behold32 the long files of Kafir women, straight and graceful33 as Venus in body, ugly almost as baboons34 in visage, coming to the fair from all parts of the land with enormous loads on their heads of ox-hides, horns, gum, and elephants’ tusks35. Threading the narrow bush-paths in long single files, they came from hillside and thicket36 towards the great centre of attraction. Gradually the crowd thickened. Kafir chiefs with leopard-skins thrown over their otherwise naked bodies stalked about with an assumption of quiet dignity which they found it difficult to maintain amid the excitement and temptations of the fair. Swarthy groups found shelter among the trees that fringed the Keiskamma below the post—the women resting after having gladly laid down their burdens; their lords sitting on their heels with knob-kerrie in hand, jealously guarding their property. The great chief himself was there, laying seignorial taxation37 on his people, and even condescending38 to beg for the white man’s brandy.
“Come with me,” said Orpin to a newly made Dutch friend; “I’m told you understand Kafir, and I want you to interpret for me. Will you?”
The Dutchman said “Ja,” and went, for Orpin had a persuasive40 tongue and pleasant manner which induced all sorts of men to aid him. And so they two went down into the bush among the dark-skinned crew, and Stephen preached in their wondering ears the “old, old story” of the Cross—a story which is never told entirely41 in vain, though many a time it does seem as if the effect of it were woefully disproportioned to the efforts of those who go forth42 bearing the precious seed.
Meanwhile Skyd and Dobson were driving lucrative43 bargains in another part of the field, speaking wonderful Kafir in the midst of a Babel of Dutch and English that was eminently44 suggestive of the ancient “tower” itself.
Besides the difficulties of language there were troubles also in reference to trade, for Kafirs, although savage45, are fastidious. The men were as particular about their necklaces as any beau could be about the cut of his coat and the women were at times very hard to please in the matter of turban-covers and kaross back-stripes. But after much haggling46 the contending parties came to terms, to their mutual benefit and satisfaction.
In another part of the market there seemed to be a tendency to riot. Either bargaining was more hotly carried on there, or spirits of a pugnacious47 tendency were congregated48. Among them was a tall powerful Kafir, who had been evidently treated to a glass of something stronger than water. He was not tipsy, he was only elevated, but the elevation49 roused his ire to such an extent that he began to boast loudly that he could fight any one, and flourished his sticks or kerries in a defiant50 manner. Kafirs always fight with two sticks, one to hit with, the other to guard.
A trader from the Green Isle51 chanced to pass this man, and to be jostled by him. Every one knows of the world’s opinion of the Irishman’s love for fighting. Pat became nettled52.
“Arrah!” says he, “yer mighty53 fond o’ swagger, but I’ll tache you manners, you black baste54! Come on!”
The big Kafir came on at once, and made a blow at Pat’s head with his knob-kerrie that would have ended the fight at once if it had taken effect, but the Irishman, well trained in the art, guarded it neatly55, and returned with a blow so swift and vigorous that it fell on the pate56 of the savage like a flail57. As well might Pat have hit a rock. If there is a strong point about a black man, it is his head. The Irish man knew this, but had forgotten it in the first flush of combat. He became wiser. Meanwhile a crowd of excited traders and Kafirs gathered round the combatants and backed them.
The Kafir made another wild swoop58 at his enemy’s skull59, but the blow was easily turned aside. Pat returned with a feint at his foe60’s head, but came down with terrible force on the inside of his right knee. The Kafir dropped his sticks, seized his knee with both hands, stood on one leg, and howled in agony.
Scorning to strike a defenceless foe, Paddy gave him a dab61 on the end of his already flat nose, by way of reminding him that he was off his guard. The Kafir took the hint, caught up his sticks and sprang at his opponent with the yell of a hyena62, whirling aloft both sticks at once. The Irishman had to leap aside, and, as he did so, drew from the Kafir a shriek63 of pain by hitting him sharply on the left shin, adding to the effect immediately by a whack64 under the right eye that might have finished an average ox. The Kafir fell, more, however, because of the pain of the double blow, than because of its force, for he rolled about bellowing65 for a few seconds. Then, jumping up, he renewed the fight. There is no saying how long it might have lasted had not a party of troops chanced to pass just then, who separated the combatants and dispersed66 the crowd.
The “fair,” however, was made use of not only as an occasion for trading, preaching, and fighting, but for plotting. Chiefs met there in peace, who might otherwise have failed to meet except in battle, and these, with chiefs of banditti from the mountains, and malcontents from all quarters, concocted67 and hatched designs against the well-being68 of individuals and of the public at large.
At this time the colonists69, besides being troubled by savage thieves, were threatened with disturbance70 from the inter-tribal feuds71 of the savages72 themselves. One tremendous Zulu monster of the name of Chaka—who excelled Nero himself in cruelty—was driving other tribes of Kafirs down into the colony, and designing chiefs were beginning to think or hope that the opportunity had arrived for carrying out their favourite idea of driving the white man into the sea.
In a dark forest glade73, not far from the fort, and within hearing of its bugle-calls, Stephen Orpin walked up and down with one of the malcontents.
“I tell you, Ruyter, it is in vain to join with the Kafirs,” said Orpin. “If all the Hottentots in Africa were to unite with them, you would not be strong enough to crush the white man.”
“Why not?” demanded the Hottentot angrily, in his broken English; “we be strong as you, and brave.”
“But you are not so well armed,” said Orpin.
“Fact,” returned the freebooter, “but time vill make dat all squaar. Smugglers bring guns to we, an’ pooder. Ver’ soon be all right.”
“Listen, Ruyter, you are like a child. You know nothing. The land from which the white man comes will never suffer him to be driven out of Africa. England is rich in everything, and will send men to fill the places of those who fall. Besides, I think God is on the white man’s side, because the white man in the main intends and tries to do good. Just think of the ‘fair.’ The black man wants beads and brass wire and cotton, and many other things—the white man brings these things from over the sea. On the other hand the white man wants hides, horns, ivory—the black man can supply these things. They meet to exchange, good is done by each to the other. Why should they fight?”
“For revenge,” said Ruyter darkly.
“No doubt revenge is sweet to you, but it is sinful,” returned Orpin. “Besides, the sweetness does not last long; and will it, let me ask, make the black man happier or the white man more sorrowful in the long-run? You should think of others, not only of yourself, Ruyter.”
“Does Jan Smit ever tink of oders—of anybody but hisself?”
“Perhaps not, but Conrad Marais does, and so do many other men of like mind. God, the Father of all men, is a God of peace, and does not permit His children to gratify feelings of revenge. Jesus, the Saviour of lost man, is the Prince of peace; He will not deliver those who wilfully74 give way to revenge.”
“I no want deliverance,” said the robber chief sternly.
“I know that,” replied Orpin, “and it was to deliver you from that state of mind that Jesus came. Think, Ruyter, think—”
He was interrupted at this point by the sound of an approaching ox-waggon. Ruyter, being a well-known outlaw75, did not dare to show himself at the fair, although not a whit39 worse in any respect than most of the Kafir chiefs who walked openly there unchallenged. He shrank back into the shelter of the jungle while the trader awaited the coming up of the waggon.
“Aha, here you are, Orpin—not kept you waiting long, I hope?” said John Skyd as he followed his waggon into the glade.
“Not long,” answered the trader; “but we must make the most of our time now, for the day is far spent.”
“It is, but I could not manage to get away sooner. We had to lay in a supply of powder and lead for the hunt, besides many other things. Dobson will be here with the other waggon immediately—he’s not fifty yards behind,—and then we shall start fair for the elephant-ground. You’re quite sure that you know the way, I suppose?”
“I would not undertake to guide you if I were not sure.”
In a few minutes Dobson came up with the second waggon, and the whole party set forth on a hunting expedition into the interior, under the guidance of Stephen Orpin, who had already wandered so much about the colony that he was beginning to be pretty well acquainted with a great extent of the border line.
About the same time that Skyd and Dobson went off to the interior another party of hunters and explorers set out on an expedition from the Scottish settlement of Glen Lynden. But before touching76 on this, we will turn aside to relate an incident which affected77 the movements of both parties, and has reference to a small though not unimportant personage of our story.
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1
factions
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| 组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ennui
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| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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restrictions
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| 约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则） | |
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wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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hoarded
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| v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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testaments
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| n.遗嘱( testament的名词复数 )；实际的证明 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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baboons
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| n.狒狒( baboon的名词复数 ) | |
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tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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taxation
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| n.征税，税收，税金 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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lucrative
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| adj.赚钱的，可获利的 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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haggling
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| v.讨价还价( haggle的现在分词 ) | |
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pugnacious
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| adj.好斗的 | |
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congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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54
baste
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| v.殴打，公开责骂 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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flail
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| v.用连枷打；击打；n.连枷（脱粒用的工具） | |
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swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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dab
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| v.轻触，轻拍，轻涂；n.(颜料等的)轻涂 | |
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hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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whack
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| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
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bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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concocted
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| v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 )；调制；编造；捏造 | |
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well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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73
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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