The two men were Harris and Negoro, the one lately landed from New Zealand, the other pursuing his wonted occupation of slave-dealer1 in the province of Angola. They were seated at the foot of an enormous banyan-tree, on the banks of a rushing torrent2 that streamed between tall borders of papyrus3.
After the conversation had turned awhile upon the events of the last few hours, Negoro said abruptly4,-
"Couldn't you manage to get that young fifteen-year-old any farther into the interior?"
"No, indeed; it was a hard matter enough to bring him thus far; for the last few days his suspicions have been wide awake."
"But just another hundred miles, you know," continued Negoro, "would have finished the business off well, and those black fellows would have been ours to a dead certainty."
"Don't I tell you, my dear fellow, that it was more than time for me to give them the slip?" replied Harris, shrugging his shoulders. "Only too well I knew that our young friend was longing5 to put a shot into my body, and that was a sugar-plum I might not be able to digest."
"For several days I succeeded well enough. I managed to palm off the country as the forest of Atacama, which you may recollect9 I once visited; but when the youngster began to ask for gutta-percha and humming-birds, and his mother wanted quinquina-trees, and when that old fool of a cousin was bent10 on finding cocuyos, I was rather nonplussed11. One day I had to swear that giraffes were ostriches12, but the young captain did not seem to swallow the dose at all easily. Then we saw traces of elephants and hippopotamuses13, which of course are as often seen in America as an honest man in a Benguela penitentiary14; then that old nigger Tom discovered a lot of forks and chains left by some runaway15 slaves at the foot of a tree; but when, last of all, a lion roared,-and the noise, you know, is rather louder than the mewing of a cat,-I thought it was time to take my horse and decamp."
Negoro repeated his expression of regret that the whole party had not been carried another hundred miles into the province.
"It really cannot be helped," rejoined the American; "I have done the best I could; and I think, mate," he added confidentially16, "that you have done wisely in following the caravan17 at a good distance; that dog of theirs evidently owes you a grudge18, and might prove an ugly customer."
"Take care you don't get one through your own first," laughed Harris; "that young Sands, I warn you, is a first-rate shot, and between ourselves, is rather a fine fellow of his kind."
"Fine fellow, indeed!" sneered21 Negoro; "whatever he is, he is a young upstart, and I have a long score to wipe off against him;" and, as he spoke22, an expression of the utmost malignity23 passed over his countenance24.
Harris smiled.
"Well, mate," he said; "your travels have not improved your temper, I see. But come now, tell me what you have been doing all this time. When I found you just after the wreck25, at the mouth of the Longa, you had only time to ask me to get this party, somehow or other, up into the country. But it is just upon two years since you left Cassange with that caravan of slaves for our old master Alvez. What have you been doing since? The last I heard of you was that you had run foul26 of an English cruiser, and that you were condemned27 to be hanged."
"So I was very nearly," muttered Negoro.
"Ah, well, that will come sooner or later," rejoined the American with philosophic28 indifference29; "men of our trade can't expect to die quietly in our beds, you know. But were you caught by the English?"
"No, by the Portuguese."
Negoro hesitated a moment before replying.
"No," he said, presently, and added, "The Portuguese have changed their game: for a long time they carried on the trade themselves, but now they have got wonderfully particular; so I was caught, and condemned to end my days in the penitentiary at St. Paul de Loanda."
"Confound it!" exclaimed Harris, "a hundred times better be hanged!"
"I'm not so sure of that," the Portuguese replied, "for when I had been at the galleys32 about a fortnight I managed to escape, and got into the hold of an English steamer bound for New Zealand. I wedged myself in between a cask of water and a case of preserved meat, and so managed to exist for a month. It was close quarters, I can tell you, but I preferred to travel incognito34 rather than run the risk of being handed over again to the authorities at Loanda."
"Well done!" exclaimed the American, "and so you had a free passage to the land of the Maoris. But you didn't come back in the same fashion?"
"No; I always had a hankering to be here again at my old trade; but for a year and a half...."
He stopped abruptly, and grasped Harris by the arm.
In a moment Harris had caught up his loaded gun; and both men, starting to their feet, looked anxiously around them.
"It was nothing," said Harris presently; "the stream is swollen37 by the storm, that is all; your two years' travelling has made you forget the sounds of the forest, mate. Sit down again, and go on with your story. When I know the past, I shall be better able to talk about the future."
They reseated themselves, and Negoro went on,-
"For a whole year and a half I vegetated38 at Auckland. I left the hold of the steamer without a dollar in my pocket, and had to turn my hand to every trade imaginable in order to get a living."
"Poor fellow! I daresay you even tried the trade of being an honest man," put in the American.
"Just so," said Negoro, "and in course of time the 'Pilgrim,' the vessel39 by which I came here, put in at Auckland. While she was waiting to take Mrs. Weldon and her party on board, I applied40 to the captain for a post, for I was once mate on board a slaver, and know something of seamanship. The 'Pilgrim's' crew was complete, but fortunately the ship's cook had just deserted41; I offered to supply his place; in default of better my services were accepted, and in a few days we were out of sight of New Zealand."
"I have heard something about the voyage from young Sands," said Harris, "but even now I can't understand how you reached here."
"Neither does he," said Negoro, with a malicious42 grin. "I will tell you now, and you may repeat the story to your young friend if you like."
"Well, go on," said Harris.
"When we started," continued Negoro, "it was my intention to sail only as far as Chili43: that would have brought me nearly half way to Angola; but three weeks after leaving Auckland, Captain Hull44 and all his crew were lost in chasing a whale, and I and the apprentice45 were the only seamen46 left on board."
"Then why in the name of peace didn't you take command of the ship?" exclaimed Harris.
[Illustration: Both men, starting to their feet, looked anxiously around them.]
"Because there were five strong niggers who didn't trust me; so, on second thoughts, I determined47 to keep my old post as cook."
"Not a bit of it; the only accident,-and a very lucky one it was-was meeting you on the very spot where we stranded49. But it was my doing that we got so far. Young Sands understood nothing more of navigation than the use of the log and compass. Well, one fine day, you understand, the log remained at the bottom of the sea, and one night the compass was tampered50 with, so that the 'Pilgrim,' scudding51 along before a tempest, was carried altogether out of her course. You may imagine the young captain was puzzled at the length of the voyage; it would have bewildered a more experienced head than his. Before he was aware of it, we had rounded Cape33 Horn; I recognized it through the mist. Then at once I put the compass to rights again, and the 'Pilgrim ' was carried north-eastwards by a tremendous hurricane to the very place I wanted. The island Dick Sands took for Easter Island was really Tristan d'Acunha."
"Good!" said Harris; "I think I understand now how our friends have been persuaded to take Angola for Bolivia. But they are undeceived now, you know," he added.
"I know all about that," replied the Portuguese.
"Then what do you intend to do?" said Harris.
"You will see," answered Negoro significantly; "but first of all tell me something about our employer, old Alvez; how is he?"
"Is he at the market at Bihé?"
"No, he has been at his place at Kazonndé for a year or more."
"And how does business go on?"
"Badly enough, on this coast," said Harris; "plenty of slaves are waiting to be shipped to the Spanish colonies, but the difficulty is how to get them embarked53. The Portuguese authorities on the one hand, and the English cruisers on the other, almost put a stop to exportation altogether; down to the south, near Mossamedes, is the only part where it can be attempted with any chance of success. To pass a caravan through Benguela or Loande is an utter impossibility; neither the governors nor the chefés
[Footnote 1: Subordinate Portuguese governors at secondary stations.] will listen to a word of reason. Old Alvez is therefore thinking of going in the other direction towards Nyangwe and Lake Tanganyika; he can there exchange his goods for slaves and ivory, and is sure to do a good business with Upper Egypt and the coast of Mozambique, which supplies Madagascar. But I tell you, Negoro," he added gravely, "I believe the time is coming when the slave-trade will come to an end altogether. The English missionaries54 are advancing into the interior. That fellow Livingstone, confound him! has finished his tour of the lakes, and is now working his way towards Angola; then there is another man named Cameron who is talking about crossing the continent from east to west, and it is feared that Stanley the American will do the same. All this exploration, you know, is ruinous to our business, and it is to our interest that not one of these travellers should be allowed to return to tell tales of us in Europe."
Harris spoke like a merchant embarrassed by a temporary commercial crisis. The atrocious scenes to which the slave-dealers are accustomed seems to render them impervious55 to all sense of justice or humanity, and they learn to regard their living merchandize with as small concern as though they were dealing56 with chests of tea or hogsheads of sugar.
But Harris was right when he asserted that civilization must follow the wake of the intrepid57 pioneers of African discovery. Livingstone first, and after him, Grant, Speke, Burton, Cameron, Stanley, are the heroes whose names will ever be linked with the first dawnings of a brighter age upon the dark wilds of Equatorial Africa.
Having ascertained58 that his accomplice59 had returned unscrupulous and daring as ever, and fully31 prepared to pursue his former calling as an agent of old Alvez the slave dealer, Harris inquired what he proposed doing with the survivors60 of the "Pilgrim" now that they were in his hands.
"Divide them into two lots," answered Negoro, without a moment's hesitation61, "one for the market, the other...."
He did not finish his sentence, but the expression of his countenance was an index to the malignity of his purpose.
"Which shall you sell?" asked the American.
"The niggers, of course. The old one is not worth much, but the other four ought to fetch a good price at Kazonndé."
"Yes, you are right," said Harris; "American-born slaves, with plenty of work in them, are rare articles, and very different to the miserable62 wretches63 we get up the country. But you never told me," he added, suddenly changing the subject, "whether you found any money on board the 'Pilgrim'!"
"Oh, I rescued a few hundred dollars from the wreck, that was all," said the Portuguese carelessly; "but I am expecting...." he stopped short.
"What are you expecting?" inquired Harris eagerly.
"Oh, nothing, nothing," said Negoro, apparently64 annoyed that he had said so much, and immediately began talking of the means of securing the living prey65 which he had been taking so many pains to entrap66. Harris informed him that on the Coanza, about ten miles distant, there was at the present time encamped a slave caravan, under the control of an Arab named Ibn Hamish; plenty of native soldiers were there on guard, and if Dick Sands and his people could only be induced to travel in that direction, their capture would be a matter of very little difficulty. He said that of course Dick Sands' first thought would naturally be how to get back to the coast; it was not likely that he would venture a second time through the forest, but would in all probability try to make his way to the nearest river, and descend67 its course on a raft to the sea. The nearest river was undoubtedly68 the Coanza, so that he and Negoro might feel quite sure of meeting "their friends" upon its banks.
"If you really think so," said Negoro, "there is not much time to be lost; whatever young Sands determines to do, he will do at once: he never lets the grass grow under his feet."
"Let us start, then, this very moment, mate," was Harris's reply.
Both rose to their feet, when they were startled by the same rustling in the papyrus which had previously69 aroused Negoro's fears. Presently a low growl20 was heard, and a large dog, showing his teeth, emerged from the bushes, evidently prepared for an attack.
"It's Dingo!" exclaimed Harris.
He caught up Harris's gun, and raising it to his shoulder, he fired just as the dog was in the act of springing at his throat. A long whine71 of pain followed the report, and Dingo disappeared again amongst the bushes that fringed the stream. Negoro was instantly upon his track, but could discover nothing beyond a few blood-stains upon the stalks of the papyrus, and a long crimson72 trail upon the pebbles73 on the bank.
"I think I have done for the beast now," was Negoro's remark as he returned from his fruitless search.
Harris, who had been a silent spectator of the whole scene, now asked coolly,-
"What makes that animal have such an inveterate74 dislike to you?"
"Oh, there is an old score to settle between us," replied the Portuguese.
"What about?" inquired the American.
Negoro made no reply, and finding him evidently disinclined to be communicative on the subject, Harris did not press the matter any further.
A few moments later the two men were descending75 the stream, and making their way through the forest towards the Coanza.
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1
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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papyrus
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| n.古以纸草制成之纸 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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8
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ostriches
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| n.鸵鸟( ostrich的名词复数 )；逃避现实的人，不愿正视现实者 | |
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hippopotamuses
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| n.河马（产于非洲）( hippopotamus的名词复数 ) | |
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penitentiary
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| n.感化院；监狱 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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malignity
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| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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incognito
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| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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vegetated
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| v.过单调呆板的生活( vegetate的过去式和过去分词 )；植物似地生长；（瘤、疣等）长大 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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chili
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| n.辣椒 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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50
tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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scudding
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| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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entrap
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| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
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67
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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74
inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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75
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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