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How¡¡easily¡¡and¡¡naturally¡¡she¡¡had¡¡connected¡¡his¡¡avowal¡¡of¡¡love¡¡with¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡marriage£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡was¡¡perfectly¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡mentioned¡¡marriagehe¡¡had¡¡been¡¡particularly¡¡careful¡¡not¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡him£¡¡¡¡¡That£»¡¡too£»¡¡came¡¡rather¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡a¡¡shock¡¡to¡¡his¡¡vanity¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡incredible¡¡that¡¡this¡¡little¡¡barbarian¡¡should¡¡have¡¡any¡¡doubts¡¡whatever¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡desirability¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡Baynes¡£
The¡¡first¡¡flush¡¡of¡¡passion¡¡cooled£»¡¡the¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡was¡¡enabled¡¡to¡¡reason¡¡more¡¡logically¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡start¡¡had¡¡been¡¡all¡¡wrong¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡better¡¡now¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡and¡¡prepare¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡gradually¡¡for¡¡the¡¡only¡¡proposition¡¡which¡¡his¡¡exalted¡¡estate¡¡would¡¡permit¡¡him¡¡to¡¡offer¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡go¡¡slow¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡profile¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡bathed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡silvery¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡tropic¡¡moon¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡Baynes¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡easy¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡to¡¡¡¨go¡¡slow¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡most¡¡alluring¡£
Meriem¡¡rose¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡Korak¡¡was¡¡still¡¡before¡¡her¡£
¡¨Good¡¡night£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡too¡¡beautiful¡¡to¡¡leave£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡waved¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡a¡¡comprehensive¡¡gesture¡¡which¡¡took¡¡in¡¡the¡¡starry¡¡heavens£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡moon£»¡¡the¡¡broad£»¡¡silvered¡¡plain£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dense¡¡shadows¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡that¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡jungle¡£¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡how¡¡I¡¡love¡¡it£¡¡¨
¡¨You¡¡would¡¡love¡¡London¡¡more£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡earnestly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡London¡¡would¡¡love¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡famous¡¡beauty¡¡in¡¡any¡¡capital¡¡of¡¡Europe¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡would¡¡have¡¡the¡¡world¡¡at¡¡your¡¡feet£»¡¡Meriem¡£¡¨
¡¨Good¡¡night£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡repeated£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡him¡£
The¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡selected¡¡a¡¡cigarette¡¡from¡¡his¡¡crested¡¡case£»¡¡lighted¡¡it£»¡¡blew¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡line¡¡of¡¡blue¡¡smoke¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡moon£»¡¡and¡¡smiled¡£
Chapter¡¡18
Meriem¡¡and¡¡Bwana¡¡were¡¡sitting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡verandah¡¡together¡¡the¡¡following¡¡day¡¡when¡¡a¡¡horseman¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡riding¡¡across¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡bungalow¡£¡¡¡¡Bwana¡¡shaded¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡gazed¡¡out¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡oncoming¡¡rider¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡puzzled¡£¡¡¡¡Strangers¡¡were¡¡few¡¡in¡¡Central¡¡Africa¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡blacks¡¡for¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡in¡¡every¡¡direction¡¡were¡¡well¡¡known¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡white¡¡man¡¡came¡¡within¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡miles¡¡that¡¡word¡¡of¡¡his¡¡coming¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reach¡¡Bwana¡¡long¡¡before¡¡the¡¡stranger¡£¡¡His¡¡every¡¡move¡¡was¡¡reported¡¡to¡¡the¡¡big¡¡Bwanajust¡¡what¡¡animals¡¡he¡¡killed¡¡and¡¡how¡¡many¡¡of¡¡each¡¡species£»¡¡how¡¡he¡¡killed¡¡them£»¡¡too£»¡¡for¡¡Bwana¡¡would¡¡not¡¡permit¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡prussic¡¡acid¡¡or¡¡strychnine£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡he¡¡treated¡¡his¡¡¡¨boys¡£¡¨
Several¡¡European¡¡sportsmen¡¡had¡¡been¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡by¡¡the¡¡big¡¡Englishman's¡¡orders¡¡because¡¡of¡¡unwarranted¡¡cruelty¡¡to¡¡their¡¡black¡¡followers£»¡¡and¡¡one£»¡¡whose¡¡name¡¡had¡¡long¡¡been¡¡heralded¡¡in¡¡civilized¡¡communities¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡sportsman£»¡¡was¡¡driven¡¡from¡¡Africa¡¡with¡¡orders¡¡never¡¡to¡¡return¡¡when¡¡Bwana¡¡found¡¡that¡¡his¡¡big¡¡bag¡¡of¡¡fourteen¡¡lions¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡by¡¡the¡¡diligent¡¡use¡¡of¡¡poisoned¡¡bait¡£
The¡¡result¡¡was¡¡that¡¡all¡¡good¡¡sportsmen¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡loved¡¡and¡¡respected¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡word¡¡was¡¡law¡¡where¡¡there¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡law¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡scarce¡¡a¡¡head¡¡man¡¡from¡¡coast¡¡to¡¡coast¡¡who¡¡would¡¡not¡¡heed¡¡the¡¡big¡¡Bwana's¡¡commands¡¡in¡¡preference¡¡to¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hunters¡¡who¡¡employed¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡back¡¡any¡¡undesirable¡¡strangerBwana¡¡had¡¡simply¡¡to¡¡threaten¡¡to¡¡order¡¡his¡¡boys¡¡to¡¡desert¡¡him¡£
But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡slipped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡country¡¡unheralded¡£¡¡¡¡Bwana¡¡could¡¡not¡¡imagine¡¡who¡¡the¡¡approaching¡¡horseman¡¡might¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡frontier¡¡hospitality¡¡the¡¡globe¡¡round¡¡he¡¡met¡¡the¡¡newcomer¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¡welcoming¡¡him¡¡even¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡dismounted¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡tall£»¡¡well¡¡knit¡¡man¡¡of¡¡thirty¡¡or¡¡over£»¡¡blonde¡¡of¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡smooth¡¡shaven¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tantalizing¡¡familiarity¡¡about¡¡him¡¡that¡¡convinced¡¡Bwana¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡call¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡by¡¡name£»¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡newcomer¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡of¡¡Scandinavian¡¡origin¡¡both¡¡his¡¡appearance¡¡and¡¡accent¡¡denoted¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡manner¡¡was¡¡rough¡¡but¡¡open¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡made¡¡a¡¡good¡¡impression¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Englishman£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡wont¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡strangers¡¡in¡¡this¡¡wild¡¡and¡¡savage¡¡country¡¡at¡¡their¡¡own¡¡valuation£»¡¡asking¡¡no¡¡questions¡¡and¡¡assuming¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡them¡¡until¡¡they¡¡proved¡¡themselves¡¡undeserving¡¡of¡¡his¡¡friendship¡¡and¡¡hospitality¡£
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡rather¡¡unusual¡¡that¡¡a¡¡white¡¡man¡¡comes¡¡unheralded£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡walked¡¡together¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡field¡¡into¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡suggested¡¡that¡¡the¡¡traveler¡¡might¡¡turn¡¡his¡¡pony¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡friends£»¡¡the¡¡natives£»¡¡keep¡¡us¡¡rather¡¡well¡posted¡£¡¨
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡probably¡¡due¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡I¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¨¡¡explained¡¡the¡¡stranger£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡you¡¡did¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡my¡¡coming¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡no¡¡village¡¡for¡¡several¡¡marches¡£¡¨
¡¨No£»¡¡there¡¡are¡¡none¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡¡of¡¡us¡¡for¡¡many¡¡miles£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Bwana¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Since¡¡Kovudoo¡¡deserted¡¡his¡¡country¡¡I¡¡rather¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡one¡¡could¡¡find¡¡a¡¡native¡¡in¡¡that¡¡direction¡¡under¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡miles¡£¡¨
Bwana¡¡was¡¡wondering¡¡how¡¡a¡¡lone¡¡white¡¡man¡¡could¡¡have¡¡made¡¡his¡¡way¡¡through¡¡the¡¡savage£»¡¡unhospitable¡¡miles¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡though¡¡guessing¡¡what¡¡must¡¡be¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡other's¡¡mind£»¡¡the¡¡stranger¡¡vouchsafed¡¡an¡¡explanation¡£
¡¨I¡¡came¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡north¡¡to¡¡do¡¡a¡¡little¡¡trading¡¡and¡¡hunting£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡got¡¡way¡¡off¡¡the¡¡beaten¡¡track¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡head¡¡man£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡safari¡¡who¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡before¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡took¡¡sick¡¡and¡¡died¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡could¡¡find¡¡no¡¡natives¡¡to¡¡guide¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡I¡¡simply¡¡swung¡¡back¡¡straight¡¡north¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡have¡¡been¡¡living¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fruits¡¡of¡¡our¡¡guns¡¡for¡¡over¡¡a¡¡month¡£¡¡¡¡Didn't¡¡have¡¡an¡¡idea¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡white¡¡man¡¡within¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡us¡¡when¡¡we¡¡camped¡¡last¡¡night¡¡by¡¡a¡¡water¡¡hole¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plain¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡morning¡¡I¡¡started¡¡out¡¡to¡¡hunt¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡smoke¡¡from¡¡your¡¡chimney£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡sent¡¡my¡¡gun¡¡bearer¡¡back¡¡to¡¡camp¡¡with¡¡the¡¡good¡¡news¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡straight¡¡over¡¡here¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡I've¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡youeverybody¡¡who¡¡comes¡¡into¡¡Central¡¡Africa¡¡doesand¡¡I'd¡¡be¡¡mighty¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡permission¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡up¡¡and¡¡hunt¡¡around¡¡here¡¡for¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡weeks¡£¡¨
¡¨Certainly£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Bwana¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Move¡¡your¡¡camp¡¡up¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡river¡¡below¡¡my¡¡boys'¡¡camp¡¡and¡¡make¡¡yourself¡¡at¡¡home¡£¡¨
They¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡verandah¡¡now¡¡and¡¡Bwana¡¡was¡¡introducing¡¡the¡¡stranger¡¡to¡¡Meriem¡¡and¡¡My¡¡Dear£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡just¡¡come¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bungalow's¡¡interior¡£
¡¨This¡¡is¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Hanson£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡using¡¡the¡¡name¡¡the¡¡man¡¡had¡¡given¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡a¡¡trader¡¡who¡¡has¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡way¡¡in¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¨
My¡¡Dear¡¡and¡¡Meriem¡¡bowed¡¡their¡¡acknowledgments¡¡of¡¡the¡¡introduction¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡man¡¡seemed¡¡rather¡¡ill¡¡at¡¡ease¡¡in¡¡their¡¡presence¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡host¡¡attributed¡¡this¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡his¡¡guest¡¡was¡¡unaccustomed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡society¡¡of¡¡cultured¡¡women£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡found¡¡a¡¡pretext¡¡to¡¡quickly¡¡extricate¡¡him¡¡from¡¡his¡¡seemingly¡¡unpleasant¡¡position¡¡and¡¡lead¡¡him¡¡away¡¡to¡¡his¡¡study¡¡and¡¡the¡¡brandy¡¡and¡¡soda¡¡which¡¡were¡¡evidently¡¡much¡¡less¡¡embarrassing¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Hanson¡£
When¡¡the¡¡two¡¡had¡¡left¡¡them¡¡Meriem¡¡turned¡¡toward¡¡My¡¡Dear¡£
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Hanson¡¡did¡¡not¡¡accept¡¡Bwana's¡¡invitation¡¡to¡¡move¡¡his¡¡camp¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bungalow¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡said¡¡his¡¡boys¡¡were¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡be¡¡quarrelsome£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡were¡¡better¡¡off¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance£»¡¡and¡¡he£»¡¡himself£»¡¡was¡¡around¡¡but¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡always¡¡avoided¡¡coming¡¡into¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ladies¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡fact¡¡which¡¡naturally¡¡aroused¡¡only¡¡laughing¡¡comment¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rough¡¡trader's¡¡bashfulness¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡accompanied¡¡the¡¡men¡¡on¡¡several¡¡hunting¡¡trips¡¡where¡¡they¡¡found¡¡him¡¡perfectly¡¡at¡¡home¡¡and¡¡well¡¡versed¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡finer¡¡points¡¡of¡¡big¡¡game¡¡hunting¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡an¡¡evening¡¡he¡¡often¡¡spent¡¡much¡¡time¡¡with¡¡the¡¡white¡¡foreman¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡farm£»¡¡evidently¡¡finding¡¡in¡¡the¡¡society¡¡of¡¡this¡¡rougher¡¡man¡¡more¡¡common¡¡interests¡¡than¡¡the¡¡cultured¡¡guests¡¡of¡¡Bwana¡¡possessed¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡it¡¡came¡¡that¡¡his¡¡was¡¡a¡¡familiar¡¡figure¡¡about¡¡the¡¡premises¡¡by¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡came¡¡and¡¡went¡¡as¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡fit£»¡¡often¡¡wandering¡¡along¡¡in¡¡the¡¡great¡¡flower¡¡garden¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡especial¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡joy¡¡of¡¡My¡¡Dear¡¡and¡¡Meriem¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡first¡¡time¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡surprised¡¡there¡¡he¡¡apologized¡¡gruffly£»¡¡explaining¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡always¡¡been¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡the¡¡good¡¡old¡¡blooms¡¡of¡¡northern¡¡Europe¡¡which¡¡My¡¡Dear¡¡had¡¡so¡¡successfully¡¡transplanted¡¡in¡¡African¡¡soil¡£
Was¡¡it£»¡¡though£»¡¡the¡¡ever¡¡beautiful¡¡blossoms¡¡of¡¡hollyhocks¡¡and¡¡phlox¡¡that¡¡drew¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡perfumed¡¡air¡¡of¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡other¡¡infinitely¡¡more¡¡beautiful¡¡flower¡¡who¡¡wandered¡¡often¡¡among¡¡the¡¡blooms¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡great¡¡moonthe¡¡black¡haired£»¡¡suntanned¡¡Meriem£¿
For¡¡three¡¡weeks¡¡Hanson¡¡had¡¡remained¡£¡¡¡¡During¡¡this¡¡time¡¡he¡¡said¡¡that¡¡his¡¡boys¡¡were¡¡resting¡¡and¡¡gaining¡¡strength¡¡after¡¡their¡¡terrible¡¡ordeals¡¡in¡¡the¡¡untracked¡¡jungle¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡as¡¡idle¡¡as¡¡he¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡divided¡¡his¡¡small¡¡following¡¡into¡¡two¡¡parties£»¡¡entrusting¡¡the¡¡leadership¡¡of¡¡each¡¡to¡¡men¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡trust¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡them¡¡he¡¡explained¡¡his¡¡plans¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rich¡¡reward¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡win¡¡from¡¡him¡¡if¡¡they¡¡carried¡¡his¡¡designs¡¡to¡¡a¡¡successful¡¡conclusion¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡party¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡very¡¡slowly¡¡northward¡¡along¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡that¡¡connects¡¡with¡¡the¡¡great¡¡caravan¡¡routes¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡Sahara¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡other¡¡he¡¡ordered¡¡straight¡¡westward¡¡with¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡halt¡¡and¡¡go¡¡into¡¡permanent¡¡camp¡¡just¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡great¡¡river¡¡which¡¡marks¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡boundary¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡that¡¡the¡¡big¡¡Bwana¡¡rightfully¡¡considers¡¡almost¡¡his¡¡own¡£
To¡¡his¡¡host¡¡he¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡his¡¡safari¡¡slowly¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡northhe¡¡said¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡¡moving¡¡westward¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡one¡¡day£»¡¡he¡¡announced¡¡that¡¡half¡¡his¡¡boys¡¡had¡¡