adventure-第31章

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〃And　the　snaky　locks；〃　Sheldon　laughed。

The　bushman　was　in　mortal　fear；　led　by　all　his　training　to　expect　nothing　less　than　death；　yet　he　did　not　cower　away　from　them。　Instead；　he　returned　their　looks　with　lean　self…sufficiency；　and　finally　centred　his　gaze　upon　Joan；　the　first　white　woman　he　had　ever　seen。

〃My　word；　bush　fella　kai…kai　along　that　fella　boy；〃　Binu　Charley　remarked。

So　stolid　was　his　manner　of　utterance　that　Joan　turned　carelessly　to　see　what　had　attracted　his　attention；　and　found　herself　face　to　face　with　Gogoomy。　　At　least；　it　was　the　head　of　Gogoomythe　dark　object　they　had　seen　hanging　in　the　smoke。　　It　was　freshthe　smoke…curing　had　just　begunand；　save　for　the　closed　eyes；　all　the　sullen　handsomeness　and　animal　virility　of　the　boy；　as　Joan　had　known　it；　was　still　to　be　seen　in　the　monstrous　thing　that　twisted　and　dangled　in　the　eddying　smoke。

Nor　was　Joan's　horror　lessened　by　the　conduct　of　the　Poonga…Poonga　boys。　　On　the　instant　they　recognized　the　head；　and　on　the　instant　rose　their　wild　hearty　laughter　as　they　explained　to　one　another　in　shrill　falsetto　voices。　　Gogoomy's　end　was　a　joke。　　He　had　been　foiled　in　his　attempt　to　escape。　　He　had　played　the　game　and　lost。　And　what　greater　joke　could　there　be　than　that　the　bushmen　should　have　eaten　him？　　It　was　the　funniest　incident　that　had　come　under　their　notice　in　many　a　day。　　And　to　them　there　was　certainly　nothing　unusual　nor　bizarre　in　the　event。　　Gogoomy　had　completed　the　life…cycle　of　the　bushman。　　He　had　taken　heads；　and　now　his　own　head　had　been　taken。　　He　had　eaten　men；　and　now　he　had　been　eaten　by　men。

The　Poonga…Poonga　men's　laughter　died　down；　and　they　regarded　the　spectacle　with　glittering　eyes　and　gluttonous　expressions。　　The　Tahitians；　on　the　other　hand；　were　shocked；　and　Adamu　Adam　was　shaking　his　head　slowly　and　grunting　forth　his　disgust。　　Joan　was　angry。　　Her　face　was　white；　but　in　each　cheek　was　a　vivid　spray　of　red。　　Disgust　had　been　displaced　by　wrath；　and　her　mood　was　clearly　vengeful。

Sheldon　laughed。

〃It's　nothing　to　be　angry　over；〃　he　said。　　〃You　mustn't　forget　that　he　hacked　off　Kwaque's　head；　and　that　he　ate　one　of　his　own　comrades　that　ran　away　with　him。　　Besides；　he　was　born　to　it。　　He　has　but　been　eaten　out　of　the　same　trough　from　which　he　himself　has　eaten。〃

Joan　looked　at　him　with　lips　that　trembled　on　the　verge　of　speech。

〃And　don't　forget；〃　Sheldon　added；　〃that　he　is　the　son　of　a　chief；　and　that　as　sure　as　fate　his　Port　Adams　tribesmen　will　take　a　white　man's　head　in　payment。〃

〃It　is　all　so　ghastly　ridiculous；〃　Joan　finally　said。

〃Anderromantic；〃　he　suggested　slyly。

She　did　not　answer；　and　turned　away；　but　Sheldon　knew　that　the　shaft　had　gone　home。

〃That　fella　boy　he　sick；　belly　belong　him　walk　about；〃　Binu　Charley　said；　pointing　to　the　Poonga…Poonga　man　whose　shoulder　had　been　scratched　by　the　arrow　an　hour　before。

The　boy　was　sitting　down　and　groaning；　his　arms　clasping　his　bent　knees；　his　head　drooped　forward　and　rolling　painfully　back　and　forth。　　For　fear　of　poison；　Sheldon　had　immediately　scarified　the　wound　and　injected　permanganate　of　potash；　but　in　spite　of　the　precaution　the　shoulder　was　swelling　rapidly。

〃We'll　take　him　on　to　where　Tudor　is　lying；〃　Joan　said。　　〃The　walking　will　help　to　keep　up　his　circulation　and　scatter　the　poison。　　Adamu　Adam；　you　take　hold　that　boy。　　Maybe　he　will　want　to　sleep。　　Shake　him　up。　　If　he　sleep　he　die。〃

The　advance　was　more　rapid　now；　for　Binu　Charley　placed　the　captive　bushman　in　front　of　him　and　made　him　clear　the　run…way　of　traps。　Once；　at　a　sharp　turn　where　a　man's　shoulder　would　unavoidably　brush　against　a　screen　of　leaves；　the　bushman　displayed　great　caution　as　he　spread　the　leaves　aside　and　exposed　the　head　of　a　sharp…pointed　spear；　so　set　that　the　casual　passer…by　would　receive　at　the　least　a　nasty　scratch。

〃My　word；〃　said　Binu　Charley；　〃that　fella　spear　allee　same　devil…　devil。〃

He　took　the　spear　and　was　examining　it　when　suddenly　he　made　as　if　to　stick　it　into　the　bushman。　　It　was　a　bit　of　simulated　playfulness；　but　the　bushman　sprang　back　in　evident　fright。　Poisoned　the　weapon　was　beyond　any　doubt；　and　thereafter　Binu　Charley　carried　it　threateningly　at　the　prisoner's　back。

The　sun；　sinking　behind　a　lofty　western　peak；　brought　on　an　early　but　lingering　twilight；　and　the　expedition　plodded　on　through　the　evil　forestthe　place　of　mystery　and　fear；　of　death　swift　and　silent　and　horrible；　of　brutish　appetite　and　degraded　instinct；　of　human　life　that　still　wallowed　in　the　primeval　slime；　of　savagery　degenerate　and　abysmal。　　No　slightest　breezes　blew　in　the　gloomy　silence；　and　the　air　was　stale　and　humid　and　suffocating。　　The　sweat　poured　unceasingly　from　their　bodies；　and　in　their　nostrils　was　the　heavy　smell　of　rotting　vegetation　and　of　black　earth　that　was　a…crawl　with　fecund　life。

They　turned　aside　from　the　run…way　at　a　place　indicated　by　Binu　Charley；　and；　sometimes　crawling　on　hands　and　knees　through　the　damp　black　muck；　at　other　times　creeping　and　climbing　through　the　tangled　undergrowth　a　dozen　feet　from　the　ground；　they　came　to　an　immense　banyan　tree；　half　an　acre　in　extent；　that　made　in　the　innermost　heart　of　the　jungle　a　denser　jungle　of　its　own。　　From　out　of　its　black　depths　came　the　voice　of　a　man　singing　in　a　cracked；　eerie　voice。

〃My　word；　that　big　fella　marster　he　no　die！〃

The　singing　stopped；　and　the　voice；　faint　and　weak；　called　out　a　hello。　　Joan　answered；　and　then　the　voice　explained。

〃I'm　not　wandering。　　I　was　just　singing　to　keep　my　spirits　up。　Have　you　got　anything　to　eat？〃

A　few　minutes　saw　the　rescued　man　lying　among　blankets；　while　fires　were　building；　water　was　being　carried；　Joan's　tent　was　going　up；　and　Lalaperu　was　overhauling　the　packs　and　opening　tins　of　provisions。　　Tudor；　having　pulled　through　the　fever　and　started　to　mend；　was　still　frightfully　weak　and　very　much　starved。　　So　badly　swollen　was　he　from　mosquito…bites　that　his　face　was　unrecognizable；　and　the　acceptance　of　his　identity　was　largely　a　matter　of　faith。　　Joan　had　her　own　ointments　along；　and　she　prefaced　their　application　by　fomenting　his　swollen　features　with　hot　cloths。　　Sheldon；　with　an　eye　to　the　camp　and　the　preparations　for　the　night；　looked　on　and　felt　the　pangs　of　jealousy　at　every　contact　of　her　hands　with　Tudor's　face　and　body。　　Somehow；　engaged　in　their　healing　ministrations；　they　no　longer　seemed　to　him　boy's　hands；　the　hands　of　Joan　who　had　gazed　at　Gogoomy's　head　with　pale　cheeks　sprayed　with　angry　flame。　　The　hands　were　now　a　woman's　hands；　and　Sheldon　grinned　to　himself　as　his　fancy　suggested　that　some　night　he　must　lie　outside　the　mosquito…netting　in　order　to　have　Joan　apply　soothing　fomentations　in　the　morning。



CHAPTER　XXVTHE　HEAD…HUNTERS



The　morning's　action　had　been　settled　the　night　before。　　Tudor　was　to　stay　behind　in　his　banyan　refuge　and　gather　strength　while　the　expedition　proceeded。　　On　the　far　chance　that　they　might　rescue　even　one　solitary　survivor　of　Tudor's　party；　Joan　was　fixed　in　her　determination　to　push　on；　and　neither　Sheldon　nor　Tudor　could　persuade　her　to　remain　quietly　at　the　banyan　tree　while　Sheldon　went　on　and　searched。　　With　Tudor；　Adamu　Adam　and　Arahu　were　to　stop　as　guards；　the　latter　Tahitian　being　selected　to　remain　because　of　a　bad　foot　which　had　been　brought　about　by　stepping　on　one　of　the　thorns　concealed　by　the　bushmen。　　It　was　evidently　a　slow　poison；　and　not　too　strong；　that　the　bushmen　used；　for　the　wounded　Poonga…Poonga　man　was　still　alive；　and　though　his　swollen　shoulder　was　enormous；　the　inflammation　had　already　begun　to　go　down。　　He；　too；　remained　with　Tudor。

Binu　Charley　led　the　way；　by　proxy；　however；　for；　by　means　of　the　poisoned　spear；　he　drove　the　captive　bushman　ahead。　　The　run…way　still　ran　through　the　dank　and　rotten　jungle；　and　they　knew　no　villages　would　be　encountered　till　rising　ground　was　gained。　　They　plodded　on；　panting　and　sweating　in　the　humid；　stagnant　air。　　They　were　immersed　in　a　sea　of　wanton；　prodigal　vegetation。　　All　about　them　the　huge…rooted　trees　blocked　their　footing；　while　coiled　and　knotted　climbers；　of　the　girth　of　a　man's　arm；　were　thrown　from　lofty　branch　to　lofty　branch；　or　hung　in　tangled　masses　like　so　many　monstrous　snakes。　　Lush…stalked　plants；　larger…leaved　than　the　body　of　a　man；　exuded　a　sweaty　moisture　from　all　their　surfaces。　Here　and　there；　banyan　trees；　like　rocky　islands；　shouldered　aside　the　streaming　riot　of　vegetation　between　their　crowded　columns；　showing　portals　and　passages　wherein　all　daylight　was　lost　and　only　midnight　gloom　remained。　　Tree…ferns　and　mosses　and　a　myriad　other　parasitic　forms　jostled　with　gay…coloured　fungoid　growths　for　room　to　live；　and　the　very　atmosphere　itself　seemed　to　afford　clinging　space　to　airy　fairy　creepers；　light　and　delicate　as　gem…dust；　tremulous　with　microscopic　blooms。　　Pale…golden　and　vermilion　orchids　flaunted　their　unhealthy　blossoms　in　the　golden；　dripping　sunshine　that　filtered　through　the　matted　roof。　　It　was　the　mysterious；　evil　forest；　a　charnel　house　of　silence；　wherein　naught　moved　save　strange　tiny　birdsthe　strangeness　of　them　making　the　mystery　more　profound；　for　they　flitted　on　noiseless　wings；　emitting　neither　song　nor　chirp；　and　they　were　mottled　with　morbid　colours；　having　all　the　seeming　of　orchids；　flying　blossoms　of　sickness　and　decay。

He　was　caught　by　surprise；　fifteen　feet　in　the　air　above　the　path；　in　the　forks　of　a　many…branched　tree。　　All　saw　him　as　he　dropped　like　a　shadow；　naked　as　on　his　natal　morn；　landing　springily　on　his　bent　knees；　and　like　a　shadow　leaping　along　the　run…way。　　It　was　hard　for　them　to　realize　that　it　was　a　man；　for　he　seemed　a　weird　jungle　spirit；　a　goblin　of　the　forest。　　Only　Binu　Charley　was　not　perturbed。　　He　flung　his　poisoned　spear　over　the　head　of　the　captive　at　the　flitting　form。　　It　was　a　mighty　cast；　well　intended；　but　the　shadow；　leaping；　received　the　spear　harmlessly　between　the　legs；　and；　tripping　upon　it；　was　flung　sprawling。　　Before　he　could　get　away；　Binu　Charley　was　upon　him；　clutching　him　by　his　snow…　white　hair。　　He　was　only　a　young　man；　and　a　dandy　at　that；　his　face　blackened　with　charcoal；　his　hair　whitened　with　wood…ashes；　with　the　freshly　severed　tail　of　a　wild　pig　thrust　through　his　perforated　nose；　and　two　more　thrust　through　his　ears。　　His　only　other　ornament　was　a　necklace　of　human　finger…bones。　　At　sight　of　their　other　prisoner　he　chattered　in　a　high　querulous　falsetto；　with　puckered　brows　and　troubled；　wild…animal　eyes。　　He　was　disposed　of　along　the　middle　of　the　line；　one　of　the　Poonga…Poonga　men　leading　him　at　the　end　of　a　length　of　bark…rope。

The　trail　began　to　rise　out　of　the　jungle；　dipping　at　times　into　festering　hollows　of　unwholesome　vegetation；　but　rising　more　and　more　over　swelling；　unseen　hill…slopes　or　climbing　steep　hog…backs　and　rocky　hummocks　where　the　forest　thinned　and　blue　patches　of　sky　appeared　overhead。

〃Close　up　he　stop；〃　Binu　Charley　warned　them　in　a　whisper。

Even　as　he　spoke；　from　high　overhead　came　the　deep　resonant　boom　of　a　village　drum。　　But　the　beat　was　slow；　there　was　no　panic　in　the　sound。　　They　were　directly　beneath　the　village；　and　they　could　hear　the　crowing　of　roosters；　two　women's　voices　raised　in　brief　dispute；　and；　once；　the　crying　of　a　child。　　The　run…