a simpleton-第53章

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going　this　way？〃

〃Ten　days。〃

〃Why；　so　am　I。　　Come　with　me　to　Dale's　Kloof；　and　I　will　give　the
other　hundred。　　See；　I　am　in　earnest；　for　here　is　one　hundred；　at
all　events。〃

Staines　made　this　proposal；　trembling　with　excitement。　　To　his
surprise　and　joy；　the　Hottentot　assented；　though　with　an　air　of
indifference；　and　on　these　terms　they　became　fellow…travellers；　and
Staines　gave　him　a　cigar。　　They　went　on　side　by　side；　and　halted
for　the　night　forty　miles　from　Bulteel's　farm。

They　slept　in　a　Boer's　out…house；　and　the　vrow　was　civil；　and　lent
Staines　a　jackal's　skin。　　In　the　morning　he　bought　it　for　a
diamond；　a　carbuncle；　and　a　score　of　garnets；　for　a　horrible
thought　had　occurred　to　him；　if　they　stopped　at　any　place　where
miners　were；　somebody　might　buy　the　great　diamond　over　his　head。
This　fear；　and　others；　grew　on　him；　and　with　all　his　philosophy　he
went　on　thorns；　and　was　the　slave　of　the　diamond。

He　resolved　to　keep　his　Hottentot　all　to　himself　if　possible。　　He
shot　a　springbok　that　crossed　the　road；　and　they　roasted　a　portion
of　the　animal；　and　the　Hottentot　carried　some　on　with　him。

Seeing　he　admired　the　rifle；　Staines　offered　it　him　for　the　odd
hundred　pounds；　but　though　Squat's　eye　glittered　a　moment；　he
declined。

Finding　that　they　met　too　many　diggers　and　carts；　Staines　asked　his
Hottentot　was　there　no　nearer　way　to　reach　that　star；　pointing　to
one　he　knew　was　just　over　Dale's　Kloof。

Oh；　yes；　he　knew　a　nearer　way；　where　there　were　trees；　and　shade；
and　grass；　and　many　beasts　to　shoot。

〃Let　us　take　that　way；〃　said　Staines。

The　Hottentot；　ductile　as　wax；　except　about　the　price　of　the
diamond；　assented　calmly；　and　next　day　they　diverged；　and　got　into
forest　scenery；　and　their　eyes　were　soothed　with　green　glades　here
and　there；　wherever　the　clumps　of　trees　sheltered　the　grass　from
the　panting　sun。　　Animals　abounded；　and　were　tame。　　Staines；　an
excellent　marksman；　shot　the　Hottentot　his　supper　without　any
trouble。

Sleeping　in　the　wood；　with　not　a　creature　near　but　Squat；　a　sombre
thought　struck　Staines。　　Suppose　this　Hottentot　should　assassinate
him　for　his　money；　who　would　ever　know？　　The　thought　was　horrible；
and　he　awoke　with　a　start　ten　times　that　night。　　The　Hottentot
slept　like　a　stone；　and　never　feared　for　his　own　life　and　precious
booty。　　Staines　was　compelled　to　own　to　himself　he　had　less　faith
in　human　goodness　than　the　savage　had。　　He　said　to　himself；　〃He　is
my　superior。　　He　is　the　master　of　this　dreadful　diamond；　and　I　am
its　slave。〃

Next　day　they　went　on　till　noon；　and　then　they　halted　at　a　really
delightful　spot；　a　silver　kloof　ran　along　a　bottom；　and　there　was　a
little　clump　of　three　acacia…trees　that　lowered　their　long　tresses；
pining　for　the　stream；　and　sometimes　getting　a　cool　grateful　kiss
from　it　when　the　water　was　high。

They　halted　the　horse；　bathed　in　the　stream；　and　lay　luxurious
under　the　acacias。　　All　was　delicious　languor　and　enjoyment　of
life。

The　Hottentot　made　a　fire；　and　burnt　the　remains　of　a　little　sort
of　kangaroo　Staines　had　shot　him　the　evening　before；　but　it　did　not
suffice　his　maw；　and　looking　about　him；　he　saw　three　elands
leisurely　feeding　about　three　hundred　yards　off。　　They　were
cropping　the　rich　herbage　close　to　the　shelter　of　a　wood。

The　Hottentot　suggested　that　this　was　an　excellent　opportunity。　　He
would　borrow　Staines's　rifle；　steal　into　the　wood；　crawl　on　his
belly　close　up　to　them；　and　send　a　bullet　through　one。

Staines　did　not　relish　the　proposal。　　He　had　seen　the　savage's　eye
repeatedly　gloat　on　the　rifle；　and　was　not　without　hopes　he　might
even　yet　relent；　and　give　the　great　diamond　for　the　hundred　pounds
and　this　rifle；　and　he　was　so　demoralized　by　the　diamond；　and
filled　with　suspicion；　that　he　feared　the　savage；　if　he　once　had
the　rifle　in　his　possession；　might　levant；　and　be　seen　no　more；　in
which　case　he；　Staines；　still　the　slave　of　the　diamond；　might　hang
himself　on　the　nearest　tree；　and　so　secure　his　Rosa　the　insurance
money；　at　all　events。　　In　short；　he　had　really　diamond　on　the
brain。

He　hem'd　and　haw'd　a　little　at　Squat's　proposal；　and　then　got　out
of　it　by　saying；　〃That　is　not　necessary。　　I　can　shoot　it　from
here。〃

〃It　is　too　far；〃　objected　Blacky。

〃Too　far！　　This　is　an　Enfield　rifle。　　I　could　kill　the　poor　beast
at　three　times　that　distance。〃

Blacky　was　amazed。　　〃An　Enfield　rifle；〃　said　he；　in　the　soft
musical　murmur　of　his　tribe；　which　is　the　one　charm　of　the　poor
Hottentot；　〃and　shoot　three　times　SO　far。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Christopher。　　Then；　seeing　his　companion's　hesitation；
he　conceived　a　hope。　　〃If　I　kill　that　eland　from　here；　will　you
give　me　the　diamond　for　my　horse　and　the　wonderful　rifle？no
Hottentot　has　such　a　rifle。〃

Squat　became　cold　directly。　　〃The　price　of　the　diamond　is　two
hundred　pounds。〃

Staines　groaned　with　disappointment；　and　thought　to　himself　with
rage；　〃Anybody　but　me　would　club　the　rifle；　give　the　obstinate
black　brute　a　stunner；　and　take　the　diamondGod　forgive　me！〃

Says　the　Hottentot　cunningly；　〃I　can't　think　so　far　as　white　man。
Let　me　see　the　eland　dead；　and　then　I　shall　know　how　far　the　rifle
shoot。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Staines。　　But　he　felt　sure　the　savage　only　wanted
his　meal；　and　would　never　part　with　the　diamond；　except　for　the　odd
money。

However；　he　loaded　his　left　barrel　with　one　of　the　explosive
projectiles　Falcon　had　given　him；　it　was　a　little　fulminating　shell
with　a　steel　point。　　It　was　with　this　barrel　he　had　shot　the　murcat
overnight；　and　he　had　found　he　shot　better　with　this　barrel　than
the　other。　　He　loaded　his　left　barrel　then；　saw　the　powder　well　up；
capped　it　and　cut　away　a　strip　of　the　acacia　with　his　knife　to　see
clear；　and　lying　down　in　volunteer　fashion；　elbow　on　ground；　drew
his　bead　steadily　on　an　eland　who　presented　him　her　broadside；　her
back　being　turned　to　the　wood。　　The　sun　shone　on　her　soft　coat；　and
never　was　a　fairer　mark；　the　sportsman's　deadly　eye　being　in　the
cool　shade；　the　animal　in　the　sun。

He　aimed　long　and　steadily。　　But　just　as　he　was　about　to　pull　the
trigger；　Mind　interposed；　and　he　lowered　the　deadly　weapon。　　〃Poor
creature！〃　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　take　her　lifefor　what？　for　a
single　meal。　　She　is　as　big　as　a　pony；　and　I　am　to　lay　her　carcass
on　the　plain；　that　we　may　eat　two　pounds　of　it。　　This　is　how　the
weasel　kills　the　rabbit；　sucks　an　ounce　of　blood　for　his　food；　and
wastes　the　rest。　　So　the　demoralized　sheep…dog　tears　out　the　poor
creature's　kidneys；　and　wastes　the　rest。　　Man；　armed　by　science
with　such　powers　of　slaying；　should　be　less　egotistical　than
weasels　and　perverted　sheep…dogs。　　I　will　not　kill　her。　　I　will　not
lay　that　beautiful　body　of　hers　low；　and　glaze　those　tender；　loving
eyes　that　never　gleamed　with　hate　or　rage　at　man；　and　fix　those
innocent　jaws　that　never　bit　the　life　out　of　anything；　not　even　of
the　grass　she　feeds　on；　and　does　it　more　good　than　harm。　　Feed　on；
poor　innocent。　　And　you　be　blanked；　you　and　your　diamond；　that　I
begin　to　wish　I　had　never　seen；　for　it　would　corrupt　an　angel。〃

Squat　understood　one　word　in　ten；　but　he　managed　to　reply。　　〃This
is　nonsense…talk；〃　said　he；　gravely。　　〃The　life　is　no　bigger　in
that　than　in　the　murcat　you　shot　last　shoot。〃

〃No　more　it　is；〃　said　Staines。　　〃I　am　a　fool。　　It　is　come　to　this；
then；　Kafirs　teach　us　theology；　and　Hottentots　morality。　　I　bow　to
my　intellectual　superior。　　I'll　shoot　the　eland。〃　　He　raised　his
rifle　again。

〃No；　no；　no；　no；　no；　no；〃　murmured　the　Hottentot；　in　a　sweet　voice
scarcely　audible；　yet　so　keen　in　its　entreaty；　that　Staines　turned
hastily　round　to　look　at　him。　　His　face　was　ashy；　his　teeth
chattering；　his　limbs　shaking。　　Before　Staines　could　ask　him　what
was　the　matter；　he　pointed　through　an　aperture　of　the　acacias　into
the　wood　hard　by　the　elands。　　Staines　looked；　and　saw　what　seemed
to　him　like　a　very　long　dog；　or　some　such　animal；　crawling　from
tree　to　tree。　　He　did　not　at　all　share　the　terror　of　his　companion；
nor　understand　it。　　But　a　terrible　explanation　followed。　　This
creature；　having　got　to　the　skirt　of　the　wood；　expanded；　by　some
strange　magic；　to　an　incredible　size；　and　sprang　into　the　open；
with　a　growl；　a　mighty　lion；　he　seemed　to　ricochet　from　the　ground；
so　immense　was　his　second　bound；　that　carried　him　to　the　eland；　and
he　struck　her　one　blow　on　the　head　with　his　terrible　paw；　and
felled　her　as　if　with　a　thunderbolt：　down　went　her　body；　with　all
the　legs　doubled；　and　her　poor　head　turned　over；　and　the　nose
kissed　the　ground。　　The　lion　stood　motionless。　　Presently　the
eland；　who　was　not　dead；　but　stunned；　began　to　recover　and　struggle
feebly　up。　　Then　the　lion　sprang　on　her　with　a　roar；　and　rolled　her
over；　and　with　two　tremendous　bites　and　a　shake；　tore　her　entrails
out　and　laid　her　dying。　　He　sat　composedly　down；　and　contemplated
her　last　convulsions；　without　touching　her　again。

At　this　roar；　though　not　loud；　the　horse；　though　he　had　never　heard
or　seen　a　lion；　trembled；　and　pulled　at　his　halter。

Blacky　crept　into　the　water；　and　Staines　was　struck　with　such　an
awe　as　he　had　never　felt。　　Nevertheless；　the　king　of　beasts　being
at　a　distance；　and　occupied；　and　Staines　a　brave　man；　and　out　of
sight；　he　kept　his　ground　and　watched；　and　by　those　means　saw　a
sight　never　to　be　forgotten。　　The　lion　rose　up；　and　stood　in　the
sun　incredibly　beautiful　as　well　as　terrible。　　He　was　not　the　mangy
hue　of　the　caged　lion；　but　a　skin　tawny；　golden；　glossy　as　a　race…
horse；　and　of　exquisite　tint　that　shone　like　pure　gold　in　the　sun；
his　eye　a　lustrous　jewel　of　richest　hue；　and　his　mane　sublime。　　He
looked　towards　the　wood；　and　uttered　a　full　roar。　　This　was　so
tremendous　that　the　horse　shook　all　over　as　if　in　an　ague；　and
began　to　lather。　　Staines　recoiled；　and　his　flesh　crept；　and　the
Hottentot　went　under　water；　and　did　not　emerge　for　ever　so　long。

After　a　pause；　the　lion　roared　again；　and　all　the　beasts　and　birds
of　prey　seemed　to　know　the　meaning　of　that　terrible　roar。　　Till
then　the　place　had　been　a　solitude；　but　now　it　began　to　fill　in　the
strangest　way；　as　if　the　lord　of　the　forest　could　call　all　his
subjects　together　with　a　trumpet　roar：　first　came　two　lion　cubs；　to
whom；　in　fact；　the　roar　had　been　addressed。　　The　lion　rubbed
himself　several　times　against　the　eland；　but　did　not　eat　a　morsel；
and　the　cubs　went　in　and　feasted　on　the　prey。　　The　lion　politely
and　paternally　drew　back；　and　watched　the　young　people　enjoying
themselves。

Meantime　approached；　on　tiptoe；　jackals　and　hyenas；　but　dared　not
come　too　near。　　Slate…colored　vultures　settled　at　a　little
distance；　but　not　a　soul　dared　interfere　with　the　cubs；　they　saw
the　lion　was　acting　sentinel；　and　they　knew　better　than　come　near。

After　a　time；　papa　feared　for　the　digestion　of　those　brats；　or　else
his　own　mouth　watered；　for　he　came　up；　knocked　them　head　over　heels
with　his　velvet　paw；　and　they　took　the　gentle　hint；　and　ran　into
the　wood　double　quick。

Then　the　lion　began　tearing　away　at　the　eland；　and　bolting　huge
morsels　greedily。　　This　made　the　rabble's　mouth　water。　　The　hyenas；
and　jackals；　and　vultures　formed　a　circle　ludicrous　to　behold；　and
that　circle　kept　narrowing　as　the　lion　tore　away　at　his　prey。　　They