With the riches thus unexpectedly placed at his disposal, and legitimately1 his by the fortunes of war, Kingozi was enabled to proceed to the final grand exchange of gifts that assured his friendship with M'tela and sealed the alliance. He was spurred to his best efforts in this by the news, brought in by an alarmed Mali-ya-bwana, that Winkleman had escaped. However, by dint2 of rich presents, supplementing the careful diplomatic negotiations3 that had gone before, he arrived at an understanding.
"And now, oh, King, I must tell you this," he said boldly. "Of white men there is not merely one but many kinds, just as among the African peoples. There are strong men and weak men, good men and bad men, and men of different tribes. Of the tribes are the _Inglishee_ to which I belong, which is the most powerful of all--like your own people of the Kabilagani in this land--and also another tribe called the _Duyche_, only a little less powerful. These two tribes are now at war."
"A-a-a-a," observed M'tela interestedly.
"One of the _Duyche_ is in your country, oh, King. I have met him and defeated him by my magic. Some of these people you see here were his people; and of his goods I have everything."
"But it may be," suggested M'tela with a slight cooling of cordiality, "that many more _Duyche_ will follow this one."
"They cannot prevail against my magic. Talk with Simba, with my men, and know what virtue4 is in my magic. But beyond that, oh, King, have you not heard of the wars of the Wakamba? of Lobengula? of the Matabele and the Basuto? has not news come to you from the north of the battles of the Sudan? Have you not heard of Lenani, the king of all Masai, and of his advice to his people? All these wars were won by _Inglishee_; Lenani's words of wisdom spoke5 of _Inglishee_. Have you ever heard of the victories of the _Duyche?_ No. There were no such victories!"[18]
[Footnote 18: Kingozi here took shrewd advantage of the fact that German East Africa was peacefully occupied without necessity of the spectacular tribal6 wars of Matabeland, Zululand, Basutoland, and the Wakamba district of British East Africa. Lenani's advice to his people was given at the close of the Wakamba war. Said he: "There is no doubt that the Masai are a greater people than the Wakamba, and in case of war we could fight the white man harder than the Wakamba fought him. Undoubtedly7, too, my people could kill a great many of the English. But this I have noticed: that when a Wakamba is dead, he remains8 dead; but when a white man is dead ten more come to take his place." In consequence of this advice the Masai--one of the most warlike of all the tribes--negotiated with the English, and today remain both at peace and unconquered.]
After an hour's elaboration of this theme Kingozi judged the moment propitious9 to return to the original subject. M'tela offered the opportunity.
"This _Duyche_ whom you have conquered--you killed him?"
"He escaped."
"A-a-a-a."
"He is still alive and in your land. Let order be given to search him out."
"That shall be done," said M'tela after a moment's thought.
Mali-ya-bwana and Simba set out with a posse of M'tela's men. They had no great difficulty in getting track of the missing Bavarian. Winkleman had arrived to find the camping site deserted10. He had, indomitably, set out on the track of his safari11. To eat he was forced at last to beg of the wild herdsmen. M'tela's dread12 name elicited13 from these last definite information. The search party found Winkleman, very dirty, quite hungry, profoundly chagrined14, but still good humoured, seated in a smoky hut eating soured smoky milk. He wore sandals improvised15 from goatskin, a hat and spine-pad made from banana leaves ingeniously woven.
"_Ach!_" he cried, recognizing Kingozi's two men. "So it is you! What have you done with my safari?"
"I led it to my _bwana_," replied Simba.
"Where you may now lead me," said Winkleman resignedly. "By what means have you thought of these things, N'ympara?" "By the magic of this," replied Simba with becoming modesty16, producing the precious bone.
"_Ach_ the _saurian!_" cried Winkleman. "I remember. It had gone from my mind. It is a curious type; I do not quite recognize. Let me see it."
But Simba was replacing carefully the talisman17 in its wrappings. He had no mind to deliver the magic into other hands--perhaps to be used against himself!
They led Winkleman directly to Kingozi's camp. Winkleman followed, looking always curiously18 about him. His was the true scientific mind. He was quite capable of forgetting his plight--and did so--in the interest of new fauna19 and flora20, or of ethnological eccentricities21. Once or twice he insisted on a halt for examination of something that caught his notice, and insisted so peremptorily22 when the savages23 would have forced him on, that they yielded to his wish.
It was early in the morning. Kingozi, as ever, sat in his canvas chair atop the hill. He was alone, for the Leopard24 Woman, always on the alert and always staring through her glasses, had caught sight of the little group before it plunged25 into the papyrus26; and had retired27 to her tent. Winkleman plowed28 up the hill blowing out his cheeks in a full-blooded hearty29 fashion.
"Oho!" he cried in his great voice when he had drawn30 near. "This is not so bad! It is Culbertson!"
"I am sorry about this," said Kingozi briefly31--"a man of your eminence-- very disagreeable."
Winkleman dropped heavily to the ground.
"That is nothing," he waved aside the half-apology, "though it would not be bad to have the bath and change these clothes. But fortunes of war--it is but the fortunes of war--I would have done worse to you. How long is it that you have arrived?"
"Long enough," replied Kingozi briefly. "Oh, Cazi Moto, bring tea! I have had your tent pitched, Doctor Winkleman; and you must bathe and change and rest. But before you go we must understand each other. This is war time, and you are my prisoner. You must give me your parole neither to try to escape nor to tamper32 with my men, with M'tela, or any of his people. If you feel you cannot do this I shall be compelled to hold you closely guarded."
Winkleman laughed one of his great gusty33 laughs.
"I give it willingly. What foolishness otherwise. What foolishness anyway, all this. War is nonsense. It destroys. It interferes34. Consider, my dear Culbertson, here was I safely in the Congo forests, and for two, three months I have lived there, like a native quietly; and of all the world there is to amuse me only the fauna and the flora--which I know like my hand. But I discover a new species--a _papilio_. But all the time I live quiet, and I wait. And at last the people, the little forest people, little by little they get confidence; they come to the edge of the forest, they venture to camp, slow. Suppose I wave my hand like that--pouf! They have run away. But I wait; and they come forth35. So I camp by myself in the forest--for I leave my safari away that it may not frighten this people. And by and by we talk. I am beginning to learn their language. Culbertson, I find these people speak the true click language, but also I find it true sex-denoting language most resembling in that respect the ancient Fula!"
"Where was this? Impossible!" cried Kingozi, interested and excited.
"Ah!" roared Winkleman with satisfaction. "I thought I would your interest catch! But it is true; and in the central Congo."
"But that would throw the prehistoric36 Libyan and Hamitic migrations37 farther to the west than----"
"Pre-cisely!" interrupted Winkleman.
"What sort of people were they? Did they show Hamitic characteristics particularly? or did they incline to the typical prognathous, short- legged, stealopygous type of the Bushmen?"
But Winkleman reverted38 abruptly39 to his narrative40.
"That is a long discussion to make. It will wait. But just as I get these people where I can put them beneath my observation, so, there comes an ober-lieutenant with foolishness in the way of guns and uniform and _askaris_ and that nonsense; and my little people run into the forest and are no more to be seen."
"Hard luck!" commented Kingozi feelingly.
"Is it not so? This ober-lieutenant is a fool. He knows nothing. _Dumkopf!_ All he knows is to give me a letter from the _Kaiserliche dumkopf_ at Dar-es-salaam. I read it. It tells me I must come here, to this place, with speed, and get the military aid of this M'tela and so forth with many details. It was another foolishness. I know this type of people well. There is nothing new to be learned. They are of the usual types. It is foolishness to come here. But it is an order, so I come, and I do my best. But now I am a prisoner, while I might be with the little people in the Congo. I talk much."
"I fancy we are going to have a good deal to talk about," interjected Kingozi.
"_Ach!_ that is true! That is what I said--that I am glad this is Culbertson who catches me. Yes! We must talk!"
"Bath is ready, _bwana_," said he.
Winkleman puffed42 out his chest and protruded43 his great beard.
"This war--foolishness!" he mumbled44.
"Yes, we have much to talk about. Nevertheless," said Kingozi with slight embarrassment45, "it is necessary that I do my duty according to my orders. And my orders were much like yours--to get the alliance of this M'tela. But I have told him that you are my enemy; and he sent his men with mine to find you; and now, as you can well comprehend, I must----"
But Winkleman's quick comprehension leaped ahead of Kingozi's speech.
"I must play the prisoner, is it not?" he cried with one of his big laughs. "But so! Of course! That is comprehend. How could it be otherwise? I know my native! I know what he expects. I shall be humble46, the slave, your foot upon my neck. Of course! Do you suppose I do not know?"
"That is well," said Kingozi, much relieved, "I shall tell him that you are a man of much wisdom and great magic; and that I have saved your life to serve me."
"So!" cried Winkleman delightedly; and departed to his tent and the waiting bath. A few moments later he could be heard robustly47 splashing in the tent. A roar summoned Cazi Moto.
"Tell your _bwana_ I want _n'dowa_--medicine--understand? Need some boric acid," he yelled at Kingozi. "Eyes in bad shape."
Kingozi ordered Cazi Moto to take over the entire medicine chest; then sent a messenger for M'tela, who shortly appeared.
"This enemy of mine is taken, thanks to your men, oh, King. I have him here in the tent, well guarded."
"How shall we kill him, papa?" inquired M'tela.
"That has not yet been decided," replied Kingozi carelessly. "He must, of course, be taken to the great King of all _Inglishee_."
M'tela looked disappointed.
"In the meantime," pursued Kingozi, "as he has much knowledge, and great magic, I shall talk much with him, and get that magic for the benefit of us both, oh, King. He cannot escape, for my magic is greater than his."
This M'tela well believed, for the reports industriously48 circulated by Simba anent his magic bone had reached the King, and had not lost in transit49.
So when Winkleman came swashbuckling up the hill M'tela was prepared. The blue-black beard and hearty, deep-chested carriage of the Bavarian impressed him greatly.
"But this is a great _bwana_, papa," he said to Kingozi. "Like you and me."
"This is the prisoner of which I spoke to you," said Kingozi in a loud voice.
Winkleman, a twinkle in his wide eyes, but with his countenance50 composed to gravity, stepped forward, salaamed51, and placed his forehead beneath Kingozi's hand in token of submission52. Thus proper relations were established. Winkleman seated himself humbly53 on the sod, and kept silence, while high converse54 went forward. At length M'tela departed. Winkleman immediately plunged into the conversational55 gap around which, mentally, he had been, impatiently hovering56 for an hour.
"But this articulation57 of the _saurus_" he broke out. "What of it?"
"The magic bone," chuckled58 Kingozi.
"Pouf! Pouf! It resembled much the _cinoliosaurus_, but that could not be."
"Why not?" demanded Kingozi quickly.
"It has been found only in the lias formations of the Jurassic," stated Winkleman dogmatically, "and that type of Jurassic is not here. It is of England, yes; of Germany, yes; of the Americas, yes. Of central Africa, no!"
"Nevertheless----" interposed Kingozi.
"But the _cryptoclidus_--that greatly resembles the _cinoliosaurus_-- perhaps. Or even a subspecies of the _plesiosaurus_----"
"Simba," called Kingozi.
"Suh!"
"Bring here the magic bone. The _bwana_ wishes to look at it. No; it is all right. I myself tell you; no harm can come."
Reluctantly Simba produced the bone, now fittingly wrapped in clean _mericani_ cloth, and still more reluctantly undid59 it and handed it to Winkleman. The latter seized it and began minutely to examine it, muttering short, disconnected sentences to himself in German.
"Now here is what I have said," he spoke aloud. "See. By this curve----"
He broke off, staring curiously into Kingozi's face. The latter sat apparently60 looking out across the hills, paying no attention to the fact that Winkleman had thrust the bone fairly under his nose. The pause that ensued became noticeable. Kingozi stirred uneasily, turning his eyes in the direction of the scientist.
"Glaucoma!" ejaculated Winkleman.
Kingozi smiled wearily.
"Yes. I wondered when you would find it out."
"You are all blind?"
"I can distinguish light." Kingozi straightened his back, and his voice became incisive61. "But I can still see through eyes that are faithful to me! Make no mistakes there."
"My dear friend; have I not given my parole?" gently asked the Bavarian.
"Beg your pardon. Of course."
"It is serious. You should have a surgeon. But why have you not used the temporary remedy? Of course you know the effect of drugs?"
"I know that atropin is ruin, right enough," said Kingozi grimly.
"But the pilocarpin----"
"Of course. I only wish I had some."
"But you have!" came Winkleman's astonished voice. "There is of it a large vial!"
Kingozi gripped the arm of his chair for a full minute. Then he spoke to Cazi Moto in a vibrating voice.
"Bring me the chest of medicines. Now," he went on to Winkleman, when this command had been executed, "kindly62 read to me the labels on all these bottles; begin at the left. All, please."
He listened attentively63 while Winkleman obeyed. The pilocarpin was present; the atropin was gone.
"You have not deceived me?" he cried sharply. "No--why should you--wait----"
He thought for some moments. When he raised his face it was gray.
"One of the bottles was broken. I had reason to believe it the pilocarpin," he said quietly. "Can I trespass64 on your good nature to make the proper solution for my eyes?"
"It is but a temporary expedient," warned Winkleman. "It is surgery here demanded. I know the operation, but I cannot perform. One makes a transverse incision65 above the cornea----"
"I know, I know," interrupted Kingozi. "But the pilocarpin will give me my sight. Let us get at it."
收听单词发音 |
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legitimately
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| ad.合法地；正当地，合理地 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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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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tribal
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| adj.部族的，种族的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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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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safari
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| n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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fauna
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| n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系 | |
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flora
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eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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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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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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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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papyrus
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| n.古以纸草制成之纸 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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plowed
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| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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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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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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tamper
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| v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害 | |
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gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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interferes
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| vi. 妨碍，冲突，干涉 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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prehistoric
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| adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的 | |
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migrations
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| n.迁移，移居( migration的名词复数 ) | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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robustly
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| adv.要用体力地，粗鲁地 | |
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industriously
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transit
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| n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过 | |
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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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salaamed
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| 行额手礼( salaam的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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conversational
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| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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articulation
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| n.（清楚的）发音；清晰度，咬合 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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Undid
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| v. 解开, 复原 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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incisive
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| adj.敏锐的，机敏的，锋利的，切入的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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incision
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| n．切口，切开 | |
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