It was the close of the day. Over the baked veldt of Equatorial Africa a safari1 marched. The men, in single file, were reduced to the unimportance of moving black dots by the tremendous sweep of the dry country stretching away to a horizon infinitely2 remote, beyond which lay single mountains, like ships becalmed hull-down at sea. The immensities filled the world-- the simple immensities of sky and land. Only by an effort, a wrench3 of the mind, would a bystander on the advantage, say, of one of the little rocky, outcropping hills have been able to narrow his vision to details.
And yet details were interesting. The vast shallow cup to the horizon became a plain sparsely4 grown with flat-topped thorn trees. It was not a forest, yet neither was it open country. The eye penetrated5 the thin screen of tree trunks to the distance of half a mile or more, but was brought to a stop at last. Underfoot was hard-baked earth, covered by irregular patches of shale6 that tinkled7 when stepped on. Well-defined paths, innumerable, trodden deep and hard, cut into the iron soil. They nearly all ran in a northwesterly direction. The few traversing paths took a long slant8. These paths, so exactly like those crossing a village green, had in all probability never been trodden by human foot. They had been made by the game animals, the swarming9 multitudinous game of Central Africa.
The safari was using one of the game trails. It was a compact little safari, comprising not over thirty men all told. The single white man walked fifty yards or so ahead of the main body. He was evidently tired, for his shoulders drooped10, and his shuffling11, slow-swinging gait would anywhere have been recognized by children of the wilderness12 as that which gets the greatest result from the least effort. Dressed in the brown cork13 helmet, the brown flannel14 shirt with spine-pad, the khaki trousers, and the light boots of the African traveller little was to be made of either his face or figure. The former was fully15 bearded, the latter powerful across the shoulders. His belt was heavy with little leather pockets; a pair of prismatic field-glasses, suspended from a strap16 around his neck, swung across his chest; in the crook17 of his left arm he carried a light rifle.
Immediately at his heels followed a native. This man's face was in conformation that of the typical negro; but there the resemblance ceased. Behind the features glowed a proud, fierce spirit that transformed them. His head was high but his eyes roved from right to left restlessly, never still save when they paused for a flickering18 instant to examine some gazelle, some distant herd19 of zebra or wildebeeste standing20 in the vista21 of the flat-topped trees. His nostrils22 slowly expanded and contracted with his breathing, as do those of a spirited horse. In contrast to the gait of the white man he stepped vigorously and proudly as though the long day had not touched his strength. He wore a battered23 old felt hat, a tattered24 flannel shirt, a ragged25 pair of shorts, and the blue puttees issued by the British to their native troops. The straps26 of two canteens crossed on his breast; a full cartridge27 belt encircled his waist; he carried lightly and easily one of those twelve-pound double cordite rifles that constitute the only African life insurance.
Fifty yards in the rear marched the carriers. They were a straight, strong lot, dressed according to their fancy or opportunity in the cast-off garments of the coast; comical in the ensemble28, perhaps, but worthy29 of respect in that all day each had carried a seventy-pound load under a tropical sun, and that they were coming in strong.
And finally, bringing up the rear, marched a small, lively, wizened30 little fellow, dressed as nearly as possible like the white man, and carrying as the badge of his office a bulging31 cotton umbrella and the _kiboko_--the slender, limber, stinging rhinoceros-hide whip.
It was the end of a long march. This could be guessed by the hour, by the wearied slouch of the white man, above all by the conduct of the safari. The men were walking one on the heels of the other. Their burdens, carried on their heads, held them erect32. They stepped out freely. But against the wooden chop boxes, the bags of cornmeal _potio_, the bundles of canvas that made up some of the loads, the long safari sticks went _tap, tap, tap_, in rhythm. This tapping was a steady undertone to the volume of noise that arose from thirty throats. Every man was singing or shouting at the full strength of his lungs. A little file of Wakamba sung in unison33 one of the weird34 wavering minor35 chants peculiar36 to savage37 peoples everywhere; some Kavirondos simply howled in staccato barks like beasts. Between the extremes were many variations; but every man contributed to the uproar38, and tapped his load rhythmically39 with his long stick. By this the experienced traveller would have known that the men were very tired, tired to the point of exhaustion40; for the more wearied the Central African native, or the steeper the hill he, laden41, must surmount42, the louder he sings or yells.
"_Maji hapana m'bale, bwana_," observed the gun bearer to the white man. "Water is not far, master."
The white man merely nodded. These two had been together many years, and explanations were not necessary between them. He, as well as Simba, had noticed the gradual convergence of the game trails, the presence of small grass birds that flushed under their feet, the sing-sing buck43 behind the aloes, the increasing numbers of game animals that stared or fled at the sight and sound of the safari.
Nothing more was said. The way led to the top of one of those low transverse swells44 that conceal45 the middle distance without actually breaking the surface of the veldt. In the corresponding depression beyond now could be discerned a wandering slender line of green.
"_Maji huko!_" murmured Simba. "There is the water."
Suddenly he stooped low, uttering a peculiar hissing46 sound. The white man, too, dropped to the ground, throwing his rifle forward.
"_Nyama, bwana!_" he whispered fiercely, "_karibu sana!_"
He pointed47 cautiously over the white man's shoulder. The safari, at the sight of the two dropping to a crouch48, had stopped as though petrified49, and stood waiting in silence.
"We have no meat," Simba reminded his master in Swahili.
The white man eased himself back to a sitting posture50, resting his elbows on his knees, as all sensible good rifle shots do when they have the chance. Simba, his eyes glowing fiercely, staring with almost hypnotic intensity51 over his master's shoulder, quivered like an eager dog.
"Hah!" he grunted52 as the loud spat53 of the bullet followed the rifle's crack. "_Na kamata_--he has it!" he added as the wildebeeste plunged54 into full view.
The hunter manipulated the bolt to throw in a new cartridge, but did not shift his position. In less remote countries the sportsman, unlimited55 in ammunition56 but restricted in chances, would probably have pumped in four or five shots until the quarry57 was down. The traveller and Simba watched closely, with expert eyes, to determine whether a precious second cartridge should be expended58.
"Where?" asked the white man briefly59.
"Low in the shoulder," replied Simba.
The wildebeeste plunged wildly here and there, kicking, bucking60, menacing the unseen danger with his horns. For several seconds longer the two watched, then rose leisurely61 to their feet. Simba motioned to the waiting safari, who, correctly interpreting the situation, broke into a trot62. Both Simba and his master knew that had the animal not received a mortal wound it would before this have whirled to look back. The fact that it still ran proved its extremity63. Sure enough, within the hundred yards it suddenly plunged forward on its nose, rolled over, and lay still.
The fierce countenance64 of the gun bearer lit up in triumph. He shifted the heavy rifle and reached out to touch the lighter65 weapon resting again in the crook of his master's arm.
"_Nyama Yangu! Nyama Yangu!_" he murmured. That was Simba's name for the light rifle that did most of the shooting. The words meant simply "my meat." Simba had a name for everything from the sheath knife of his office to the white man himself. Indeed Culbertson in the Central countries was Culbertson to none. Should you inquire for news of him by that name news you could not obtain; but of Bwana Kingozi you might learn from many tribes and peoples.
But now the safari, topping the hill, swept down with a rapid fire of safari sticks against the loads and a chorus whose single word was "_n'yama!_"
Simba was already at the carcass, _Kisu M'kubwa_, his thin-bladed knife, in his hand. The men eased their loads to the ground, and stood about with eagerly gleaming eyes, as would well-trained dogs in like circumstances. Simba briefly indicated the three nearest to act as his assistants. The wildebeeste was rapidly skinned and as rapidly dismembered, the meat laid aside. Only once did the white man speak or manifest the slightest interest.
"_Sarrara indani yangu_--the tenderloin is mine."
The wizened little headman with the umbrella and the _kiboko_, who answered to the name of Cazi Moto, stepped forward and took charge of the indicated delicacy66. Soon all was ready for a resumption of the march. Nothing was left of the wildebeeste save the head and the veriest offal. The stomach and intestines67, even, had been emptied of their contents and packed away in the hide.
Already the carrion68 birds had gathered in incredible numbers. The sky was full of them circling; an encompassing69 ring of them sat a scant70 fifty yards distant, their wings held half out from their bodies, as though they felt overheated. And in the low bushes could be discerned the lurking71, furtive72, shadowy jackals.
The men were laughing, their weariness forgotten. Maulo, the camp humourist, declaimed loudly at the top of his lungs, mocking the marabouts, the buzzards, the vultures great and small, the kites and the eagles.
"Go to the lion," he cried, "he kills much, and leaves. Little meat will you get here. We keep what we get!"
And the men broke into meaningless but hearty73 laughter, as though at brilliant wit.
But Bwana Kingozi's low voice cut across the merriment.
"_Bandika!_" he commanded.
And immediately Cazi Moto and Simba took up the cry.
"_Bandika! bandika! bandika!_" they vociferated over and over. Cazi Moto moved here and there, lively as a cricket, his eyes alert for any indication of slackness, his _kiboko_ held threateningly.
But there was no need for the latter. The men willingly enough swung aloft their loads, now augmented74 by the meat, and the little caravan75 moved on.
Scarcely had Cazi Moto, bringing up the rear, quitted the scene when the carrion birds swooped76. They fell from the open sky like plummets77, their wings half folded. When within ten feet of the ground they checked their fall with pinion78 and tail, and the sound of them was like the roar of a cataract79. Those seated on the ground moved forward in a series of ungainly hops80, trying for more haste by futile81 urgings of their wings. Where the wildebeeste had fallen was a writhing82, flopping83, struggling brown mass. In an incredibly brief number of seconds it was all over. The birds withdrew. Some sat disgruntled and humpbacked in the low trees; some merely hopped84 away a few yards to indulge in gloomy thoughts. A few of the more ambitious rose heavily and laboriously85 with strenuous86 beating of pinions87, finally to soar grandly away into the infinities88 of the African sky. Of the wildebeeste remained only a trampled89 bloody90 space and bones picked clean. The jackals crept forward at last. So brief a time did all this occupy that Maulo, looking back, saw them.
"Ho, little dogs!" he cried with one of his great empty laughs; "your stomachs will go hollow but you can fill your noses!"
They tramped on steadily91 toward the low narrow line of green trees, and the sun sank toward the hills.
收听单词发音 |
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safari
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| n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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sparsely
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| adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地 | |
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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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shale
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| n.页岩，泥板岩 | |
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tinkled
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| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
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slant
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| v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向 | |
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swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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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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strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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ensemble
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| n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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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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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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rhythmically
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| adv.有节奏地 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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surmount
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| vt.克服；置于…顶上 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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bucking
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| v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的现在分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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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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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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intestines
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| n.肠( intestine的名词复数 ) | |
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carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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encompassing
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| v.围绕( encompass的现在分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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plummets
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| v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的第三人称单数 ) | |
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pinion
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| v.束缚；n.小齿轮 | |
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79
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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80
hops
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| 跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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81
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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82
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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83
flopping
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| n.贬调v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的现在分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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84
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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85
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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86
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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87
pinions
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
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88
infinities
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| n.无穷大( infinity的名词复数 )；无限远的点；无法计算的量；无限大的量 | |
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89
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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90
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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91
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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