按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
destitute of means of curing the pelts； we started；
and； sailing through the lagoon； followed the course
of the river on the farther side。 At midday； when the
breeze dropped； we were fortunate enough to find a
convenient piece of dry land on which to camp and
light a fire； and here we cooked two wild duck and
some of the water buck's fleshnot in a very
appetizing way； it is true； but still sufficiently。
The rest of the buck's flesh we cut into strips and
hung in the sun to dry into 〃biltong；〃 as I believe
South African Dutch call flesh thus prepared。 On this
welcome patch of dry land we stopped until the
following dawn； and； as before； spent the night in
warfare with the mosquitoes； but without other
troubles。 The next day or two passed in similar
fashion； and without noticeable adventures； except
that we shot a specimen of a peculiarly graceful
hornless buck； and saw many varieties of water…lilies
in full bloom； some of them blue and of exquisite
beauty； though few of the flowers were perfect； owing
to the prevalence of a white water…maggot with a green
head that fed upon them。
It was on the fifth day of our journey； when we had
travelled； so far as we could reckon； about one
hundred and thirty…five to a hundred and forty miles
westward from the coast； that the first event of any
real importance occurred。 On that morning the usual
wind failed us about eleven o'clock； and after pulling
a little way we were forced to halt more or less
exhausted at what appeared to be the junction of our
stream with another of a uniform width of about fifty
feet。 Some trees grew near at handthe only trees in
all this country were along the banks of the river
and under these we rested； and then； the land being
fairly dry just here； walked a little way along the
edge of the river to prospect； and shoot a few
waterfowl for food。 Before we had gone fifty yards we
perceived that all hopes of getting farther up the
stream in the whale…boat were at an end； for not two
hundred yards above where we had stopped were a
succession of shallows and mud…banks； with not six
inches of water over them。 It was a watery _i_ cul…de…
sac _i_ 。
Turning back； we walked some way along the banks of
the other river； and soon came to the conclusion； from
various indications； that it was not a river at all；
but an ancient canal； like the one which is to be seen
above Mombasa； on the Zanzibar coast； connecting the
Tana River with the Ozy； in such a way as to enable
the shipping coming down the Tana to cross to the Ozy；
and reach the sea by it； and thus avoid the very
dangerous bar that blocks the mouth of the Tuna。 The
canal before us had evidently been dug out by man at
some remote period of the world's history； and the
results of his digging still remained in the shape of
the raised banks that had no doubt once formed towing…
paths。 Except here and there； where they had been
hollowed out or fallen in； these banks of stiff；
binding clay were at a uniform distance from each
other； and the depth of the water also appeared to be
uniform。 Current there was little or none； and； as a
consequence； the surface of the canal was choked with
vegetable growth； intersected by little paths of clear
water； made； I suppose； by the constant passage of
waterfowl； iguanas； and other vermin。 Now； as it was
evident that we could not proceed up the river； it
became equally evident that we must either try the
canal or else return to the sea。 We could not stop
where we were； to be baked by the sun and eaten up by
the mosquitoes； till we died of fever in。 that dreary
marsh。
〃Well； I suppose that we most try it；〃 I said； and the
others assented in their various waysLeo； as though
it were the best joke in the world； Job； in respectful
disgust； and Mahomed； with an invocation to the
Prophet； and a comprehensive curse upon all
unbelievers and their ways of thought and travel。
Accordingly； as soon as the sun got low； having little
or nothing more to hope for…from our friendly wind； we
stared。 For the first hour or so we managed to row the
boat； though with great labor； but after that the
weeds got too thick to allow of it； and we were；
obliged to resort to the primitive and most exhausting
resource of towing her。 For two hours we labored；
Mahomed； Job； and I； who was supposed to be strong
enough to pull against the two of them； on the bank；
while Leo sat in the bow of the boat； and brushed away
the weeds which collected round the cutwater with
Mahomed's sword。 At dark we halted for some hours to
rest and enjoy the mosquitoes； but about midnight we
went on again； taking advantage of the comparative
cool of the night。 At dawn we rested for three hours；
and then started once more； and labored on till about
ten o'clock； when a thunderstorm； accompanied by a
deluge of rain； overtook us； and we spent the next six
hours practically under water。
I do not know that there is any necessity for me to
describe the next four days of our voyage in detail；
further than to say that they were； on the whole； the
most miserable that I ever spent in my life； forming
one monotonous record of heavy labor； heat； misery；
and mosquitoes。 All the way we passed through a region
of almost endless swamp； and I can only attribute our
escape from fever and death to the constant doses of
quinine and purgatives which we took； and the
unceasing toil which we were forced to undergo。 On the
third day of our journey up the canal we had sighted a
round hill that loomed dimly through the vapors of the
marsh； and on the evening of the fourth night； when we
camped； this hill seemed to be within five…and…twenty
or thirty miles of us。 We were by now utterly
exhausted； and felt as though our blistered hands
could not pull the boat a yard farther； and that the
best thing that we could do would be to lie down and。
die in that dreadful wilderness of swamp。 It was an
awful position； and one in。 which I trust no other
white man will ever be placed； and as I threw myself
down in the boat to sleep the sleep of utter
exhaustion； I bitterly cursed my folly in ever having
been a party to such a mad undertaking； which could； I
saw； only end in our death in this ghastly land。 I
thought； I remember； as I slowly sank into a doze； of
what the appearance of the boat and her unhappy crew
would be in two or three months' time from that night。
There she would lie； with gaping seams and half filled
with fetid water； which； when the mist…laden wind
stirred her； would wash backward and forward through
our mouldering bones； and that would be the end of
her； and of those in her who would follow after myths
and seek out the secrets of nature。
Already I seemed to hear the water rippling against
the desiccated bones and rattling them together；
rolling my skull against Mahomed's； and his against
mine； till at last Mahomed's stood straight up upon
its vertebrae； and glared at me through its empty eye
holes； and cursed me with its grinning jaws； because
I； a dog of a Christian； disturbed the last sleep of a
true believer。 I opened my eyes； and shuddered at the
horrid dream； and then shuddered again at something
that was not a dream； for two great eyes were gleaming
down at me through the misty darkness。 I struggled up；
and in my terror and confosion shrieked； and shrieked
again； so that the others sprang up too； reeling； and
drunken with sleep and fear。 And then all of a sudden
there was a flash of cold steel； and a great spear was
held against my throat； and behind it other spears
gleamed cruelly。
〃Peace；〃 said a voice； speaking in Arabic； or rather
in some dialect into which Arabic entered very
largely； 〃who are ye who come hither swimming on the
water？ Speak or ye die；〃 and the steel pressed sharply
against my throat； sending a cold chili through me。
〃We are travellers； and have come hither by chance；〃 I
answered in my best Arabic； which appeared to be
understood； for the man turned his head and；
addressing a tall form that towered up in the
background； said； 〃Father； shall we slay？〃
〃What is the color of the men？〃 said a deep voice in
answer。
〃White is their color。〃
〃Slay not；〃 was the reply。 〃Four suns since was the
word brought to me from _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_
； 'White men come； if white men come； slay them not。
Let them be brought to the land of _i_ She…who…must…
be…obeyed _i_ 。' Bring forth the men； and let that
which they have with them be brought forth also。〃
〃Come；〃 said the man； half leading and half dragging
me from the boat； and as he did so I perceived other
men doing the same kind office to my companions。
On the bank were gathered a company of some fifty men。
In that light all I could make out was that they were
armed with huge spears were very tall； and strongly
built； comparatively light in color； and nude； save
for a leopard skin tied round the middle。
Presently Leo and Job were bundled out and placed
beside me。
〃What on earth is up？〃 said Leo； rubbing his eyes。
〃Oh； Lord！ sir； here's a rum go；〃 ejacul