The whole camp was gathered about a number of M'tela's people, who were all talking at once. The din1 was something prodigious2. Kingozi pushed his way rather angrily to the centre of disturbance3.
"Here, what is this?" he demanded to know.
But a dead, astonished silence fell upon them all. They stared at him gaping4.
"What is it?" repeated Kingozi impatiently.
"But _bwana!_" cried Cazi Moto. "You see!"
"That is a magic," replied Kingozi curtly5. "Now what is all this _kalele_ about?"
"Bwana, these people say that messengers have come in telling of many white men and _askaris_ marching in this direction."
"From where? But that does not matter--are they _Inglishee_ or _Duyche?_"
"These _shenzis_ do not know the difference."
"That is true. How far away are they?"
"Very near, _bwana_."
"Get my gun. Have Simba follow me. Here, you lead the way." They marched rapidly through the forest path and past the palace of M'tela, which Kingozi had never seen. The savage6 king came out, and Winkleman and his bodyguard7 soon followed.
"Oh, King," said Kingozi. "Now is the time to show to me that your friendship is true. As you know, other white men are coming, with warriors8. I do not know yet whether these are _Inglishee_, who are my friends--and yours--or _Duyche_, who are my enemies. If they are _Duyche_ they must be attacked and killed or captured, for we are at war."
He watched M'tela carefully while he spoke9, and felt satisfaction at what he saw.
"Have no fear, papa," replied M'tela easily. "I will cause the great drums to be beaten. My warriors are as the leaves of the grass; and these are few."
"Nevertheless they will kill many of yours," said Kingozi with great earnestness; "for they have guns that kill many times and at a long distance. When your warriors hear the great noise they make, and see the dead men, they will run." "You do not know the warriors of M'tela," replied the king with dignity. "Should the half of them fall, the other half will give these to the hyenas10. Yes, even if they had the thunder itself as weapon!"
"How many are there, oh, King?" asked Kingozi, greatly relieved.
"My men report thirty-one white men and many black men."
"I go now," advised Kingozi, "to look upon these men. Give me guides, and a messenger to send back with news of what I find."
M'tela issued the orders. A moment later Kingozi started on. Winkleman, who had spoken no word, waved him a friendly good-bye. Before they had reached the forest edge the great war drums began to roar.
The guides took them swiftly down the forest path and across the rolling country with the groves11. Kingozi looked at it all with curiosity and delight. It seemed to him that never in all his wanderings had he seen so beautiful and variegated12 a prospect13. His blindness had overtaken him, it must be remembered, out on the open dry veldt, between the Great and the Little Rains. It was as though he had awakened14 from a sleep to find himself in this watered, green, and wooded paradise.
At the top of a hill the guide stopped and pointed15. Kingozi gathered that through the distant cleft16 he indicated the strangers must come. All sat down and waited.
An hour passed. Simba uttered an exclamation17. Kingozi raised his glasses. Tiny figures on foot were debouching from the forest. They spread in all directions, advancing in fan-formation. Evidently the scouts18. Then more tiny figures, figures on horseback. Kingozi counted them. There were, as M'tela had said, just thirty-one; a gallant19 little band, but at this distance indistinguishable. They rode out some distance. And at last the first files of the black troops appeared. Kingozi dropped his glasses to the end of its thong20 with a cheer. Drooping21 in the still air the colours were nevertheless easily recognized. The flag was of England.
"_Inglishee! Inglishee!_" he repeated to M'tela's messengers, and made a motion back toward the palace. The men departed at a lope. Kingozi and Simba took the other direction.
They met the newcomers halfway22 across the long, shallow dish between the wooded hills. On catching23 sight of them the mounted white men spurred forward. A confusion of greetings stormed them.
"It's Culbertson!" "Where did _you_ rain down from?" "We've been looking for you without end! Isn't this a lark24, old man!"
In the meantime, in the personal attendants of these white men, Simba had discovered acquaintances; among them the two messengers Kingozi had despatched back in quest of Doctor McCloud.
Kingozi stood in the middle of the group, his heart overflowing25. It was good to see so many white faces again; it was good to see the faces of friends; it was good to know that his labours had not been in vain, and that the border was assured. And underneath26 it was a great exaltation. He walked on air. For she had not known! The blank astonishment27 of her face had proved that to him beyond a doubt. She really thought that she had destroyed the pilocarpin; she had not deliberately28 held from him the light of day!
His high spirits expressed themselves in an animation29 and volubility so unlike the taciturn Culbertson that many of his acquaintances stared.
"Seems quite bucked30 up," commented one to another. "Must have had a deuce of a time back here."
"What is this arm of His Majesty's Service, anyway?" Kingozi was asking in general. "I mean the mounted and disreputable portion, not the decent infantry31."
"This, my son, is the Settlers' Own Irregulars; and we've come out for to hunt the shy and elusive32 German."
"Good heads scarce up this way," rejoined Kingozi. "I've caught one specimen33 myself, however."
"Specimen of what?"
"German. Ever hear of Winkleman?"
"Rather! The native _fundi?_[19] You don't mean to say you've got him!"
[Footnote 19: Fundi--expert.]
"I've got him. He's the only specimen in these parts. But I can show you several thousand of the best fighting men in Africa--all loyal British allies."
"Good man!" cried a grizzled old settler. "I told 'em you'd do it!"
"But the war?" demanded Kingozi eagerly. "What of the war? Tell me? I know nothing whatever."
One of the younger men dismounted and insisted on delivering his animal to Kingozi.
"Do me good to stretch my legs," said he. "And you've walked your share."
Riding in a little group of the officers Kingozi listened attentively34 to an account of affairs as far as they were known. The Marne, and the Retreat from Mons straightened him in his saddle. It was worth it; he had done his bit! Whatever the price, it was worth it!
The account finished, Captain Walsh began questioning in his turn.
"Excellent!" he greeted Kingozi's account. "Couldn't be better! We have reasons to believe that the water-holes on this route are mapped by the Germans."
"They are," interrupted Kingozi.
"And that the plan contemplated35 coming through here, gathering36 the tribes as they advanced, and finally cutting in on us with a big force from the rear."
"They'll run against a stone wall hereabouts," said Kingozi with satisfaction.
"Lucky for us. I've only four companies--and these settlers. We are really only a reconnaissance."
"How did you happen to follow my route?"
"Ran against the messengers you sent back to get Doctor McCloud. They guided us. By the way, what is it? Must have been serious. You're not a man to run to panics. You look fit enough now."
"Eyes," explained Kingozi. His heart sank, for the failure of his messengers to go on after McCloud took away the last small hope of saving his eyesight.
"Fancy it will be all right," said Captain Walsh vaguely37. He was thinking, quite properly, of ways and means and dispositions38. "About this sultan, now; what do you advise----"
They rode forward slowly through the high, aromatic39 grasses, discussing earnestly every angle of policy to be assumed in regard to M'tela. At its close all the white men were called together and given instructions. Even the youngest and most flippant knew natives well enough to realize the value of the structure Kingozi had built, and to listen attentively.
These alternate marches and halts had permitted the foot troops to close up. Kingozi turned in his saddle to look at them. Fine, upstanding black men they were, marching straight and soldierly, neat in their uniforms of khaki, with the dull red tarboush, the blue leggings, the bare knees and feet. They were picked troops from the Sudan, these, fighting men by birth, whose chief tradition was that in case his colonel was killed no man must come back to his woman short of wiping out the last of the enemy. In spite of a long march they walked jauntily40. Two mounted white men brought up the rear.
Now they entered the cool forest trail. The sound of distant drums became audible. Men straightened in their saddles. Captain Walsh gave crisp orders. They entered the cleared space before M'tela's palace with colours flying and snare41 drums tapping briskly.
The full force of M'tela's power seemed to have been gathered, gorgeous in the panoply42 of war. The forest threw back the roar of drums, of horns, of people chanting or shouting. Straight to the middle of the square marched the Sudanese, wheeled smartly into line. At a command they raised their rifles and fired a volley, the first gunfire ever heard in this ancient forest.
收听单词发音 |
1
din
|
|
| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
disturbance
|
|
| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
curtly
|
|
| adv.简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
bodyguard
|
|
| n.护卫，保镖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
hyenas
|
|
| n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
groves
|
|
| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
variegated
|
|
| adj.斑驳的，杂色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
cleft
|
|
| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
scouts
|
|
| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
thong
|
|
| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
drooping
|
|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
lark
|
|
| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
overflowing
|
|
| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
underneath
|
|
| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
animation
|
|
| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
bucked
|
|
| adj.快v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的过去式和过去分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
infantry
|
|
| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
elusive
|
|
| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
specimen
|
|
| n.样本，标本 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
dispositions
|
|
| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
aromatic
|
|
| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
jauntily
|
|
| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
snare
|
|
| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
panoply
|
|
| n.全副甲胄，礼服 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |