The sun was setting. In a few minutes more the swift darkness would fall. After delivering the astonishing volley the troops wheeled and under Kingozi's guidance proceeded down the forest path to the great clearing. It was the close of a long, hard day, but under the scrutinizing1 eyes of these thousands of proud _shenzis_ the Sudanese stepped forth2 jauntily3. Camping places were designated. All was activity as the tents were raised.
But now rode in the two white men who had closed the rear of the column, not only of the fighting men, but of the burden bearers as well. They were covered with dust and apparently4 very glad to arrive. One of them rode directly to the group of officers and dismounted stiffly.
"McCloud!" cried Kingozi.
"The same," replied that efficient surgeon. "And now let's see the eyes. I have your scrawl5." He stumped6 forward, looking keenly for what he wanted. "Sit here in this chair. Boy!" he bawled7. "_Lete taa_--bring the lantern. And my case of knives. No, my lad, I'm not going to operate on you instanter, but I do want my reflector. Hold the light just here. Now, don't any of you move. Tip your head back a bit, that's a good chap." He went methodically forward with his examination as though he were at home in his white office. "H'm. How long this been going on? Five weeks, eh! Been blind? Oh--why didn't you use that pilocarpin I gave you--I see." The officers and other white men stood about in a compact and silent group. A sudden grave realization8 of the situation had descended9 upon them, sobering their careless or laughing countenances10. No one knew exactly what it was all about, but some had caught the word "blindness" and repeated it to others. Some one yelled "_kalale_" savagely11 at the chattering12 men. Almost a dead stillness fell on the clearing, so that in the falling twilight13 the tree hyraxes took heart and began to utter their demoniac screams. The darkness came down softly. Soon the group in the centre turned to silhouettes14 against the light of the two lanterns held head high on either side the patient.
Absorbedly Doctor McCloud proceeded. Kingozi sat quietly, turning his head to either side, raising or lowering his chin as he was requested to do so. At last McCloud straightened his back.
"It is glaucoma right enough," said he; "fairly advanced. The pilocarpin has been a palliative. An operation is called for--iridectomy."
He paused, wiping his mirror. Nobody dared ask the question that Kingozi himself at last propounded15.
"Can you do it--have you the necessary instruments?'"
"Fine spade scalpel, small tweezers16, scissors--_and_ a lot of experience. I've got all the former."
"And the latter?"
"I've done the operation before," said McCloud dryly.
"Will it restore my sight permanently17."
"If successful the job will be permanent."
"What chance of success?"
"Fair--fair," rejoined McCloud with a touch of impatience18. "How can I tell? But I'll just inform you of this, my lad, without the operation you're stone blind for the rest of your days, and it must be done now or not at all. So there's your Hobson's choice; and we'll get at it comfortably in the morning."
He turned away and stopped with a frank stare of astonishment19. The other men followed his gaze, and also stared.
The Leopard20 Woman stood just within the circle of illumination. So intent was she on the examination and on Kingozi that she seemed utterly21 unconscious of the men standing22 over opposite. Her soft silk robe fell about her body in classic folds; the single jewel on its chain fillet blazed on her forehead; her hair fell in its braid to her hips23, and her wide, gray-green eyes were fixed24 on the seated man. A more startlingly exotic figure for the wilds of Central Africa could not be imagined. The expressions on the faces of the newcomers were varied25 enough, to be sure, but all had a common groundwork of fair imbecility.
She seemed to be unaware26 of even their presence. When. McCloud had pronounced his opinion, she glided27 forward and laid her hand on Kingozi's shoulder.
"I am glad--but I am afraid," she said softly. Kingozi covered her hand with one of his own. His eyes twinkled with quiet amusement as he looked about him at the stricken faces of his friends. She whirled on the gaping28 McCloud. "But you must have a care!" she cried at him vehemently29. "You must save his eyes. I wish it!"
McCloud, recovering himself, bowed.
"Madam," said he with a faint, amused irony30. "It shall be my pleasure to do my best in fulfilling your commands."
"It must be," she repeated; and turned to face the rest. "He is a great man; he must be saved. All this is folly31. I have fought him to my best, for long, and I have used all means--good and bad. He conquered me as one who--what you call--subdues a child. And he is generous, and brave, and when the darkness comes to him he does not sit and weep. He is a great soul, and all things must be done!"
She was superb, her head thrown back. Captain Walsh was the first to recover from the stunned32 condition in which all found themselves. He bowed.
"Madam," said he, "in what you say we heartily33 concur34. We add our urgence to yours. You must forgive our stupidity to the surprise of your appearance. Even yet my astonishment has not abated35." He turned easily to Kingozi: "I hope you will afford me the pleasure of naming me to madam."
Kingozi arose to his feet.
"I do not know your name," he muttered to her.
"I am the Leopard Woman," she smiled back on him enigmatically.
Kingozi paused, embarrassed as to what to do. He could not use that name in an introduction to these men. She was looking at him mischievously36.
"Captain Walsh--and gentlemen," said Kingozi suddenly, "I want the pleasure of presenting you to--my future wife!"
Her gasp37 of astonishment was lost in the chorus of congratulatory cries. It was all mysterious, profoundly astonishing. Much was to be explained. But for the moment each man was ready to believe the evidences of his own senses--that no matter how incongruous the fact of her presence might be, there she was, beautiful as the night. And every man facing her had seen the glory that shone from within when Kingozi had pronounced his introduction. Captain Walsh was speaking.
"This is an occasion," he said, "and the King's African Rifles cannot have it otherwise than that you become their guests. I see our camp is in preparation. We have nothing beyond the ordinary stores, but you must all dine with us." He paused, considering. "Say in an hour," he continued. "It must be early, for I do not doubt we must receive his royal highness this evening."
"You're right," said Kingozi, "and unless I miss my guess it will be an all-night job."
The travel-wearied men groaned38.
"No help for it," said Captain Walsh cheerfully.
They pressed forward to shake the hands of this strange couple. The Leopard Woman carried herself with the ease and poise39 of one accustomed to receiving homage40. She had drawn41 near Kingozi again, and managed to reach out and press his arm.
"Ye'll be married soon, I'm thinking," surmised42 McCloud.
"Depends," replied Kingozi, his brow darkening. "Part of it's up to you, you know," he added briefly43. "A blind man is a poor man."
"We shall be married soon--now, if there is a priest among you!" cried the Leopard Woman vehemently, "As for poor man--pouf!" She turned to Walsh with an engaging smile. "And you, where you came, did you pass the people who live in the mountains back there, with a _sultani_ who dressed in black----"
"I know," supplemented Captain Walsh, "very well."
"The _sultani_ whose place has a fortified44 gate."
"Really? We did not get to his village; too much of a hurry."
The Leopard Woman shot a glance at Kingozi. He saw the triumph in it, and understood. The ivory stockade45 was unknown to any but themselves; still remained there in all its wealth awaiting the first trader. And that trader should be himself!
"Poor, indeed!" she whispered to him.
At this moment a roar of astonishment came up to them from down the slope. All turned to see Winkleman, the forgotten Winkleman, standing at the door of his tent. He was in pajamas46, and his thick hair was tousled about.
"But how I have slept!" he cried, "and the English, they have come! Well, well!" He came out, stretching his great arms lazily over his head. They stiffened47 in surprise as he caught sight of the Leopard Woman. For a second he stared; then dropped his arms with one of his big, gusty48 laughs.
"_Kolossal!_" he roared. "The Countess Miklos! I was wondering! So he has captured you, too, has he!"
With a simple and unembarrassed gesture she laid her arm across Kingozi's shoulders.
"But yes," she repeated softly. "He has captured me, too."
At the tiny fire burning before the tent reserved for the headmen of the camp sat Simba, Cazi Moto, and Mali-ya-bwana. The bone of the _saurian_ lay before Simba, who was bragging49.
"Great is the magic of this bone, which is mine. It has brought us a long journey; it has won us the friendship of the great chief; it has revealed to us much riches in the teeth of _tembo_, the elephant, though that must not be spoken aside from us three; it has restored the light to _Bwana_ Kingozi, our master; it has captured for us a great _bwana_ and a rich safari50; it has brought to us _Bwana_ Bunduki[20] and many _bwanas_ and _askaris_; it has brought to our master a woman for his own--though to be sure there are many women. Great is this magic; and it is mine. With it I shall be lucky always."
[Footnote 20: The Master of the Rifle--Captain Walsh.]
"A-a-a-a!" agreed Cazi Moto and Mali-ya-bwana respectfully.
From the darkened mysterious forest the tree hyraxes, excited by the numerous fires and the voices of so large an encampment, were wailing51 and shrieking52.
"The dead are restless tonight," said Simba, poking53 the fire.
The End
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1
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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scrawl
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| vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写 | |
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stumped
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| 僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说 | |
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bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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silhouettes
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| 轮廓( silhouette的名词复数 )； （人的）体形； （事物的）形状； 剪影 | |
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propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tweezers
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| n.镊子 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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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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hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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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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28
gaping
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| 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 | |
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vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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concur
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| v.同意，意见一致，互助，同时发生 | |
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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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mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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38
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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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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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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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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45
stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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pajamas
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| n.睡衣裤 | |
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47
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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48
gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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49
bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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50
safari
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| n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队 | |
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51
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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52
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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53
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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