a simpleton-第60章
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yoked their miscellaneous cattle again； and breasted the hill。
With many a jump； and bump； and jolt； and scream from inside； they
reached the summit； and looked down on a vast slope； flowering but
arid； a region of gaudy sterility。
The descent was more tremendous than the ascent； and Phoebe got
out； and told Christopher she would liever cross the ocean twice
than this dreadful mountain once。
The Hottentot with the reins was now bent like a bow all the time；
keeping the cattle from flowing diverse over precipices； and the
Kafir with his kambok was here； and there； and everywhere； his whip
flicking like a lancet； and cracking like a horse…pistol； and the
pair vied like Apollo and Pan； not which could sing sweetest； but
swear loudest。 Having the lofty hill for some hours between them
and the sun； they bumped； and jolted； and stuck in mud…holes； and
flogged and swore the cattle out of them again； till at last they
got to the bottom； where ran a turbid kloof or stream。 It was
fordable； but the recent rains had licked away the slope； so the
existing bank was two feet above the stream。 Little recked the
demon drivers or the parched cattle； in they plunged promiscuously；
with a flop like thunder； followed by an awful splashing。 The
wagon stuck fast in the mud； the horses tied themselves in a knot；
and rolled about in the stream； and the oxen drank imperturbably。
〃Oh； the salt！ the salt！〃 screamed Phoebe； and the rocks re…echoed
her lamentations。
The wagon was inextricable； the cattle done up； the savages lazy；
so they stayed for several hours。 Christopher botanized； but not
alone。 Phoebe drew Ucatella apart； and explained to her that when
a man is a little wrong in the head； it makes a child of him： 〃So；〃
said she； 〃you must think he is your child； and never let him out
of your sight。〃
〃All right；〃 said the sable Juno； who spoke English ridiculously
well； and rapped out idioms； especially 〃Come on；〃 and 〃All right。〃
About dusk； what the drivers had foreseen； though they had not the
sense to explain it； took place； the kloof dwindled to a mere
gutter； and the wagon stuck high and dry。 Phoebe waved her
handkerchief to Ucatella。 Ucatella； who had dogged Christopher
about four hours without a word； now took his hand； and said； 〃My
child； missy wants us； come on；〃 and so led him unresistingly。
The drivers； flogging like devils； cursing like troopers； and
yelling like hyenas gone mad； tried to get the wagon off； but it
was fast as a rock。 Then Dick and the Hottentot put their
shoulders to one wheel； and tried to prise it up； while the Kafir
ENCOURAGED the cattle with his thong。 Observing this； Christopher
went in； with his sable custodian at his heels； and heaved at the
other embedded wheel。 The wagon was lifted directly； so that the
cattle tugged it out； and they got clear。 On examination； the salt
had just escaped。
Says Ucatella to Phoebe； a little ostentatiously； 〃My child is
strong and useful； make little missy a good slave。〃
〃A slave！ Heaven forbid！〃 said Phoebe。 〃He'll be a father to us
all； once he gets his head back； and I do think it is comingbut
very slow。〃
The next three days offered the ordinary incidents of African
travel； but nothing that operated much on Christopher's mind； which
is the true point of this narrative； and as there are many
admirable books of African travel； it is the more proper I should
confine myself to what may be called the relevant incidents of the
journey。
On the sixth day from Cape Town； they came up with a large wagon
stuck in a mud…hole。 There was quite a party of Boers； Hottentots；
Kafirs； round it； armed with whips； shamboks； and oaths； lashing
and cursing without intermission； or any good effect； and there
were the wretched beasts straining in vain at their choking yokes；
moaning with anguish； trembling with terror； their poor mild eyes
dilated with agony and fear； and often； when the blows of the cruel
shamboks cut open their bleeding flesh； they bellowed to Heaven
their miserable and vain protest against this devil's work。
Then the past opened its stores； and lent Christopher a word。
〃BARBARIANS！〃 he roared； and seized a gigantic Kafir by the throat；
just as his shambok descended for the hundredth time。 There was a
mighty struggle； as of two Titans； dust flew round the combatants
in a cloud； a whirling of big bodies； and down they both went with
an awful thud； the Saxon uppermost； by Nature's law。
The Kafir's companions； amazed at first； began to roll their eyes
and draw a knife or two； but Dick ran forward； and said； 〃Don't
hurt him： he is wrong HERE。〃
This representation pacified them more readily than one might have
expected。 Dick added hastily； 〃We'll get you out of the hole OUR
way； and cry quits。〃
The proposal was favorably received； and the next minute
Christopher and Ucatella at one wheel； and Dick and the Hottentot
at the other； with no other help than two pointed iron bars bought
for their shepherds； had effected what sixteen oxen could not。 To
do this Dick Dale had bared his arm to the shoulder； it was a
stalwart limb； like his sister's； and he now held it out all
swollen and corded； and slapped it with his other hand。 〃Look'ee
here； you chaps；〃 said he： 〃the worst use a man can put that there
to is to go cutting out a poor beast's heart for not doing more
than he can。 You are good fellows； you Kafirs； but I think you
have sworn never to put your shoulder to a wheel。 But； bless your
poor silly hearts； a little strength put on at the right place is
better than a deal at the wrong。〃
〃You hear that； you Kafir chaps？〃 inquired Ucatella； a little
arrogantlyfor a Kafir。
The Kafirs； who had stood quite silent to imbibe these remarks；
bowed their heads with all the dignity and politeness of Roman
senators； Spanish grandees； etc。； and one of the party replied
gravely； 〃The words of the white man are always wise。〃
〃And his arm blanked* strong；〃 said Christopher's late opponent；
from whose mind； however； all resentment had vanished。
* I take this very useful expression from a delightful volume by
Mr。 Boyle。
Thus spake the Kafirs； yet to this day never hath a man of all
their tribe put his shoulder to a wheel； so strong is custom in
South Africa； probably in all Africa； since I remember St。 Augustin
found it stronger than he liked； at Carthage。
Ucatella went to Phoebe； and said； 〃Missy； my child is good and
brave。〃
〃Bother you and your child！〃 said poor Phoebe。 〃To think of his
flying at a giant like that； and you letting of him。 I'm all of a
tremble from head to foot：〃 and Phoebe relieved herself with a cry。
〃Oh； missy！〃 said Ucatella。
〃There； never mind me。 Do go and look after your child； and keep
him out of more mischief。 I wish we were safe at Dale's Kloof； I
do。〃
Ucatella complied； and went botanizing with Dr。 Staines； but that
gentleman； in the course of his scientific researches into camomile
flowers and blasted heath； which were all that lovely region
afforded； suddenly succumbed and stretched out his limbs； and said；
sleepily； 〃Good…nightUcat〃 and was off into the land of Nod。
The wagon； which； by the way； had passed the larger but slower
vehicle； found him fast asleep； and Ucatella standing by him as
ordered； motionless and grand。
〃Oh； dear！ what now？〃 said Phoebe： but being a sensible woman；
though in the hen and chickens line； she said； 〃'Tis the fighting
and the excitement。 'Twill do him more good than harm； I think：〃
and she had him bestowed in the wagon； and never disturbed him
night nor day。 He slept thirty…six hours at a stretch； and when he
awoke； she noticed a slight change in his eye。 He looked at her
with an interest he had not shown before； and said； 〃Madam； I know
you。〃
〃Thank God for that；〃 said Phoebe。
〃You kept a little shop； in the other world。〃
Phoebe opened her eyes with some little alarm。
〃You understandthe world that is locked upfor the present。〃
〃Well； sir； so I did； and sold you milk and butter。 Don't you
mind？〃
〃Nothe milk and butterthey are locked up。〃
The country became wilder； the signs of life miserably sparse；
about every twenty
