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！
pool； to my horror I saw that Billali's litter was
floating on it； and as for Billali himself； he was
nowhere to be seen。 To make matters clear I may as
well explain at once what had happened。 One of。
Billali's bearers had unfortunately trodden on a
basking snake； which had bitten him in the leg；
whereon he had； not unnaturally； let go of the pole；
and then； finding that he was tumbling down the bank；
grasped at the litter to save himself。 The result of
this was what might have been expected。 The litter was
pulled over the edge of the bank； the bearers let go；
and the whole thing； including Billali and the man who
had been bitten； rolled into the slimy pool。 When I
got to the edge of the water neither of them were to
be seen； and； indeed； the unfortunate bearer never was
seen again。 Either he struck his head against
something； or got wedged in the mud； or possibly the
snake…bite paralyzed him。 At any rate； he vanished。
But though Billali was not to be seen； his whereabouts
was clear enough from the agitation of the floating
litter； in the bearing cloth and curtains of which he
was entangled。
〃He is there！ Our father is there！〃 said one of the
men； but he did not stir a finger to help him； nor did
any of the others。 They simply stood and stared at the
water。
〃Out of the way； you brutes；〃 I shouted in English；
and throwing off my hat I took a run and sprang well
out into the horrid； slimy…looking pool。 A couple of
strokes took me to where Billali was struggling
beneath the cloth。
Somehow； I do not quite know how； I managed to push
this free of him； and his venerable head； all covered
with green slime； like that of a yellowish Bacchus
with ivy leaves； emerged upon the surface of the
water。 The rest was easy； for Billali was an eminently
practical individual； and had the commonsense not to
grasp hold of me as drowning people often do； so I got
him by the arm； and towed him to the bank； through the
mud of which we were with difficulty dragged。 Such a
filthy spectacle as we presented I have never seen
before or since； and it will perhaps give some idea of
the almost superhuman dignity of Billali's appearance
when I say that； coughing； half…drowned； and covered
with mud and green slime as he was； with his beautiful
beard coming to a dripping point； like a Chinaman's
freshly oiled pigtail； he still looked venerable and
imposing。
〃Ye dogs；〃 he said； addressing the bearers； as soon as
he had sufficiently recovered to speak； 〃ye left me；
your father； to drown。 Had it not been for this
stranger； my son the Baboon； assuredly I should have
drowned。 Well； I will remember it；〃 and he fixed them
with his gleaming though slightly watery eye； in a way
I saw they did not like； though they tried to appear
sulkily indifferent。
'As for thee； my son；〃 the old man went on； turning
towards me and grasping my hand； 〃rest assured that I
am thy friend through good and evil。 Thou hast saved
my life： perchance a day may come when I shall save
thine。〃
After that we cleaned ourselves as best we could；
fished out the litter； and went on； minus the man who
had been drowned。 I do not know if it was owing to his
being an unpopular character； or from native
indifference and selfishness of temperament； but I am
bound to say that nobody seemed to grieve much over
his sudden and final disappearance； unless； perhaps；
it was the men who had to do his share of the work。
CHAPTER XI
THE PLAIN OF KO^R
ABOUT an hour before sundown we at last； to my
unbounded gratitude； emerged from the great belt of
marsh on to land that swelled upward in a succession
of rolling waves； Just on the hither side of the crest
of the first wave we halted for the night。 My first
act was to examine Leo's condition。 It was； if
anything； worse than in the morning； and a new and
very distressing feature； vomiting； set in； and
continued till dawn。 Not one wink of sleep did I get
that night； for I passed it in assisting Ustane； who
was one of the most gentle and indefatigable nurses I
ever saw； to wait upon Leo and Job。 However； the air
here was warm and genial without being too hot； and
there were no mosquitoes to speak of。 Also we were
above the level of the marsh mist； which lay stretched
beneath us like the dim smoke…pall over a city； lit up
here and there by the wandering globes of fen fire。
Thus it will be seen that we were； speaking
comparatively； in clover。
By dawn on the following morning Leo was quite light…
headed； and fancied that he was divided into halves。 I
was dreadfully distressed； and began to wonder with a
sort of sick fear what the termination of the attack
would be。 Alas！ I had heard but too much of how these
attacks generally terminate。 As I was doing so Billali
came up and said that we must be getting on； more
especially as； in his opinion； if Leo did not reach
some spot where he could be quiet； and have proper
nursing； within the next twelve hours； his life would
only be a matter of a day or two。 I could not but
agree with him； so we got him into the litter； and
started on； Ustane walking by Leo's side to keep the
flies off him； and see that he did not throw himself
out on to the ground。
Within half an hour of sunrise we had reached the top
of the rise of which I have spoken； and a most
beautiful view broke upon our gaze。 Beneath us was a
rich stretch of country； verdant with grass and lovely
with foliage and flowers。 In the background； at a
distance； so far as I could judge； of some eighteen
miles from where we then stood； a huge and
extraordinary mountain rose abruptly from the plain。
The base of this great mountain appeared to consist of
a grassy slope； but rising from this； I should say；
from subsequent observation； at a height of about five
hundred feet above the level of the plain； was a most
tremendous and absolutely precipitous wall of bare
rock； quite twelve or fifteen hundred feet in height。
The shape of the mountain； which was undoubtedly of
volcanic origin； was round； and of course； as only a
segment of its circle was visible； it was difficult to
estimate its exact size； which was enormous。 I
afterwards discovered that it could not cover less
than fifty square miles of ground。 Anything more grand
and imposing than the sight presented by this great
natural castle； starting in solitary grandeur from the
level of the plain； I never saw； and I suppose I never
shall。 Its very solitude added to its majesty； and its
towering cliffs seemed to kiss the sky。 Indeed；
generally speaking； they were clothed in clouds that
lay in fleecy masses upon their broad and level
battlements。
I sat up in my hammock and gazed out across the plain
at this thrilling and majestic sight； and I suppose
that Billali noticed it； for he brought his litter
alongside。
〃Behold the House of ' _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_
！'〃 he said。 〃Had ever a queen such a throne before？〃
〃It is wonderful； my father；〃 I answered。 〃But how do
we enter？ Those cliffs look hard to climb。〃
〃Thou shalt see； my Baboon。 Look now at the plain
below us。 What thinkest thou that it is？ Thou art a
wise man。 Come； tell me。〃
I looked； and saw what appeared to be the line of
roadway running straight towards the base of the
mountain； though it was covered with turf。 There were
high banks on each side of it； broken here and there；
but fairly continuous on the whole； the meaning of
which I did not understand。 It seemed so very odd that
anybody should embank a roadway。
〃Well； my father；〃 I answered； 〃I suppose that it is a
road； otherwise I should have been inclined to say
that it was the bed of a river； or； rather；〃 I added；
observing the extraordinary directness of the cutting；
〃of a canal。〃
Billaliwho； by the way； was none the worse for his
immersion of the day beforenodded his head sagely as
he replied；
〃Thou art right； my son。 It is a channel cut out by
those who were before us in this place； to carry away
water。 Of this am I sure： within the rocky circle of
the great mountain whither we journey was once a great
lake。 But those who were before us； by wonderful arts
of which I know naught； hewed a path for the water
through the solid rock of the mountain； piercing even
to the bed of the lake。 But first they cut the channel
that thou seest across the plain。 Then； when at last
the water burst out； it rushed down the channel that
had been made to receive it； and crossed this plain
till it reached the low land behind the rise； and
there； perchance； it made the swamp through which we
have come。 Then； when the lake was drained dry； the
people whereof I speak built a mighty city； whereof
naught but ruins and the name of Ko^r yet remaineth；
on its bed； and from age to age hewed the caves and
passages that thou wilt see。〃
〃It may be；〃 I answered； 〃but if so； how is it that
the lake does not fill up again with the rains and the
water of the springs？〃
〃Nay； my son； the people were a wise people； and they
left a drain to keep it clear。 Seest thou the river to
the right？〃 and