To the bewilderment of the Leopard1 Woman the pace of the safari2 now slackened. Heretofore the marches had been stretched to the limit of endurance; now the day's journey was as leisurely3 as that of a sportsman's caravan4. It started at daybreak, to be sure, but it ended at noon, unless exigencies5 of water required an hour or two additional. As a matter of fact, Kingozi knew that he had done everything possible. If Simba & Co. succeeded, then there was no immediate6 hurry; if they failed, hurry would be useless.
Bibi-ya-chui noticed the absence of two such prominent members of the safari as Simba and Mali-ya-bwana, of course, but readily accepted Kingozi's explanation that he had sent them "as messengers."
The little safari for the third time crawled its antlike way across the immensities of the veldt. Cazi Moto managed to keep them supplied with meat, but at an excessive expenditure7 of cartridges8. As he used the Leopard Woman's rifle, this did not so much matter, for she was abundantly supplied. At last the blue ranges rose before them; each day's journey defined their outlines better. The foothills began to sketch9 themselves, to separate from the ranges, finally to surround the travellers with the low swells10 of broken country. Running water replaced the still water- holes. Cazi Moto reported herds11 of goats in the distance. One evening several of the goatherds ventured into camp. They spoke12 no Swahili, but at the name M'tela they nodded vigorously, and at the mention of Kabilagani they pointed13 at their own breasts.
"I wish I had eyes!" cried Kingozi petulantly14. "What kind of people are they?"
The Leopard Woman told him as best she could--tall, well-formed, copper15 in hue16, of a pleasing expression, clad scantily17 in goat skins.
"Their ornaments18, their arms?" cried Kingozi with impatience19.
"They are poor people," replied Bibi-ya-chui. "They have armlets of iron beaten out, and necklaces of shell fragments or bone. They carry spears with a short blade, broad like a leaf."
"Their armlets are not of wire? They have no cowrie shells?"
"No, it is beaten iron----"
"Good!" cried Kingozi. "There has been little or no trading here!"
One of the goatherds went with them as guide to M'tela.
"Without doubt," Kingozi surmised21, "others have run on to warn M'tela of our coming."
Their way led on a gentle, steady up grade without steep climbs. The hills, at first only scattered22, low hummocks23, became higher, more numerous, closed in on them; until, before they knew it, they found themselves walking up the flat bed of a canon between veritable mountains. The end of the view, the Leopard Woman said, was shut by a frowning, unbroken rampart many thousands of feet high.
"Then we are due for a climb," sighed Kingozi. "These native tracks never hunt for a grade! When they want to go up, why up they go!"
But the head of the canon, instead of stopping against the wall, bent24 sharply to the left. A "saddle" was disclosed.
Toward this the hard-beaten track led. Shortly it began to mount steeply, and shortly after it entered a high forest growing on the abrupt25 slopes. Here it was cool and mysterious, with green shadows, and the swing of rope vines, and the sudden remoteness of glimpsed skies. The earth was soft and moist under foot; so the dampness of it rose to the nostrils26. Vines and head-high bracken and feather growths covered the ground. In every shallow ravine were groves27 of tree ferns forty feet tall. A silence dwelt there, a different silence from that of the veldt at night; compounded of a few simple elements, such as the faint, incessant29 drip of hidden waters and occasional loud, hollowly echoing noises such as the bark of a colobus or the scream of a hyrax. There were birds, rare, flashing, brilliant, furtive30 birds, but they said nothing.
Through this forest on edge the path led steeply upward. Sometimes it was almost perpendicular31; sometimes it took an angle; sometimes--but rarely-- it paused at a little ledge32 wide enough to rest nearly the whole safari at once.
For an hour and a half they climbed, then topped the rim33 of the escarpment and emerged from the forest at the same time.
Immediately they were a thousand leagues from the Africa they knew. A gently rolling country stretched out before them with sweeps of green grass shoulder high, and compact groves of trees as though planted. For miles it undulated away until the very multitude of its low, peaceful hills shut in the horizon. Cattle grazed in the wide-flung hollows, and little herds of game; goats and sheep dotted the hills. The groves of trees were very green. Everything breathed of peace and plenty. Almost would one with proper childhood recollections listen for a church-going bell, search for spires34 and cottage roofs among the trees. Slim columns of smoke rose straight into the motionless air. The very sun seemed to have abated35 its African fierceness, and to have become mild.
Some of these things Kingozi learned from Cazi Moto; some from the Leopard Woman; each after his kind.
About a half-mile away a number of warriors36 in single file walked across the wide valley and disappeared in the forest to the left. They carried heavy spears and oval shields painted in various designs. A fillet bound long ostrich37 plumes38 that slanted39 backward on either side the head; and as they walked forward in the rather teetery fashion of the savage40 dandy these plumes waved up and down in rhythm.
"M'tela," said the _shenzi_ goatherd waving his hand abroad.
They camped at the edge of a pleasant grove28 near running water. The donkey that the Leopard Woman rode fell to the tall lush grasses with a thankfulness beyond all expression. All the safari was in high spirits. They saw _potio_ in sight again; and, immediately, long grass for beds.
Visitors came in shortly--a dozen armed men, like the warriors seen earlier in the day, and a dignified41 older man who spoke a sufficient Swahili. Kingozi received these in a friendly fashion, did not permit them to sit, but at once began to cross-question them. The Leopard Woman emerged from her tent.
"Stay where you are," Kingozi called to her in decided42 tones. "You must in this permit me to judge of expediencies. I forbid you to hold any communication with these people. I hope you will not make it necessary for me to take measures to see that my wishes are carried out."
She showed no irritation43, not even at the "forbid," but smiled quietly, and without reply returned to her tent.
"Yes," said the old man, "this was M'tela's country, these were M'tela's people." He disclaimed44 having been sent by M'tela.
At this point Kingozi, apparently45 losing all interest, dismissed them into the hands of Cazi Moto. The latter, previously46 instructed, took his guests to his own camp. There he distributed roast meat, one _balauri_ of coffee to the old man, and many tales, some of them true. These people had never before laid eyes on a white man, but naturally, at this late date in African history, all had heard more or less of the phenomenon. Cazi Moto found that the distinction between _Inglishee_ and _Duyche_ was known. He left a general impression that Kingozi was the favourite son of the King, come from sheer friendship and curiosity to see M'tela, whose fame was universal. For two hours the warriors squatted47, or walked about camp examining with carefully concealed48 curiosity its various activities and strange belongings49. Then all disappeared. No more people appeared that day.
Kingozi knew well enough that this was a spying party sent directly from M'tela's court; and that, pending50 its report, nothing more was to be done. Cazi Moto's detailed51 description of what had been said and done cheered his master wonderfully. By all the signs the simplest of the white man's wonders were brand new to the visitors; _ergo_ Winkleman could not have arrived. If he were not yet at M'tela's court, the chances seemed good that Simba and the magic bone had succeeded.
Nothing at present could be done. Kingozi sent Cazi Moto out to kill an abundance of game. The little headman returned later to report the extraordinary luck of two zebra to two cartridges (at thirty yards to be sure!) and that after each kill very many _shenzis_ gathered to examine the bullet wound, the gun, and the distance. They were immensely excited, not at all awestricken, entirely52 friendly. There was no indication of any desire to rob the hunters. Evidently, Kingozi reflected, they were familiar with firearms by hearsay53, and were deeply interested at this first hand experience.
The safari remained encamped at this spot all the next day, and the day succeeding. Natives came into camp, at first only the men, hesitatingly; then the women. A brisk little trade sprang up for yams, bananas, _m'wembe_ meal, eggs, and milk. No shrewder bargainer exists than your African safari man, and these soon discovered that beads54 and wire possessed55 great purchasing power in this unsophisticated country. The bartering56 had to be done in sign language, as Swahili seemed to be unknown; and no man in the safari understood this unknown tongue. Kingozi sat in state before his tent, smoking his pipe--which he still enjoyed in spite of his blindness--and awaiting events in that vast patience so necessary to the successful African traveller. Occasionally a group of the chatting natives would drift toward his throne, would fall into awestricken silence, would stare, would drift away again; but none addressed him. The Leopard Woman, obeying rules that Kingozi had managed to convey as very strict, held apart. Only in the evening, after the lion- fearing visitors had all departed, did they sit together sociably57 by the fire. The nights at this elevation58 were cool--cold they seemed to the heat-seasoned travellers.
There was not much conversation. Kingozi was lost in a deep brooding, which she respected. The occasion was serious, and both knew it. During the moment of decision the man's duty and principle had been the most important matters in the world. Once the decision was irrevocably made, however, these things fell below the horizon. There loomed59 only the thought of perpetual blindness. Kingozi faced it bravely; but such a fact requires adjustment, and in these hours of waiting the adjustments were being made.
Only once or twice did Bibi-ya-chui utter the thoughts that continually possessed her.
"It seems so foolish!" she complained to him. "You are making yourself blind for always; and you are going to be a prisoner for long! If you would go back, you would not be captured and held by Winkleman when you reach M'tela!"
But such expostulations she knew to be vain, even as she uttered them.
At about nine o'clock of the third day Cazi Moto reported a file of warriors, many warriors--"like the leaves of grass!" armed with spears and shields, wearing black ostrich plumes, debouching from the grove a mile across the way. At the same instant the Leopard Woman, her alarm causing her to violate her instructions, came to Kingozi's camp.
"They attack us!" she cried. "They come in thousands! How can we resist so many--and you blind! Tell me what I shall do!"
"There is no danger," Kingozi reassured60 her. "This is undoubtedly61 an escort. No natives ever attack at this hour of the day. Their time is just at first dawn."
She sighed with relief. Then a new thought struck her.
"But if they had wished to attack--at dawn--we have had no extra guards-- we have not fortified62! What would prevent their killing63 us all?"
"Not a thing," replied Kingozi calmly. "We are too weak for resistance. That is a chance we had to take. Now please go back to your tent. Cazi Moto, strike camp, and get ready to safari."
The warriors of M'tela debouched on the open plain, seemingly without end. The sun glinted from their upraised, polished spears; their ostrich plumes swayed gently as though a wind ruffled64 a field of sombre grain tassels65; the anklets and leg bracelets66 clashed softly together to produce in the aggregate67 a rhythmic68 marching cadence69. Their front was nearly a quarter of a mile in width. Rank after rank in succession appeared: literally70 thousands. Drums roared and throbbed71; and the blowing of innumerable trumpets72, fashioned mostly from the horns of oryx and sing-sing, added to the martial73 ensemble74.
The members of the safari were gathered in little knots, staring, wide eyed with apprehension75. Upon them descended76 zealous77 Cazi Moto. Even his _kiboko_ had difficulty in breaking up the groups, in setting the men at the commonplace occupations of breaking camp. Yet that must be done, in all decent dignity; and at length it was done.
The first ranks were now fairly at the outskirts78 of camp; the last had but just left the woods. The plains were literally covered with spearmen. A magnificent sight! They came to a halt, raised their spears horizontally above their heads; the horns and drums redoubled their din20; a mighty79, concerted shout rent the air. Then abruptly80 fell dead silence.
From the front rank a tall, impressive savage stepped forward, pacing with dignified stride. He walked directly to Kingozi's chair.
"_Jambo, bwana!_" He uttered his greeting in deep chest tones that rumbled81 like distant thunder.
"_Jambo, n'ympara_," responded Kingozi in a mild tone. By his use of the word _n'ympara_--headman--he indicated his perfect understanding of the fact that this man, for all his magnificence, for all the strength of his escort, was not M'tela himself, but only one of M'tela's ministers.
"_Jambo, bwana m'kubwa!_" rolled the latter.
"_Jambo_" replied Kingozi.
"_Jambo, bwana m'kubwa-sana!_"
"_Jambo_."
"_Jambo, bwana m'kubwa-sana!_"
"_Jambo_."
Having thus climbed by easy steps to the superlative greeting, the minister uttered his real message. As befitted his undoubted position in court, he spoke excellent Swahili.
"I am come to take you to the _manyatta_ of M'tela," he announced.
"That is well," replied Kingozi calmly. "In one hour we shall go."
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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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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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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exigencies
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| n.急切需要 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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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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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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petulantly
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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scantily
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| adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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hummocks
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| n.小丘，岗( hummock的名词复数 ) | |
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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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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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ostrich
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| n.鸵鸟 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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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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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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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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hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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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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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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bartering
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| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的现在分词 ) | |
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sociably
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| adv.成群地 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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tassels
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| n.穗( tassel的名词复数 )；流苏状物；（植物的）穗；玉蜀黍的穗状雄花v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须( tassel的第三人称单数 )；使抽穗， （为了使作物茁壮生长）摘去穗状雄花；用流苏装饰 | |
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bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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aggregate
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| adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合 | |
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rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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cadence
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| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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73
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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74
ensemble
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| n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果 | |
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75
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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76
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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77
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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78
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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79
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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80
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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81
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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