a simpleton-第61章

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The　country　became　wilder；　the　signs　of　life　miserably　sparse；
about　every　twenty　miles　the　farmhouse　or　hut　of　a　degenerate　Boer；
whose　children　and　slaves　pigged　together；　and　all　ran　jostling；
and　the　mistress　screamed　in　her　shrill　Dutch；　and　the　Hottentots
all　chirped　together；　and　confusion　reigned　for　want　of　method：
often　they　went　miles；　and　saw　nothing　but　a　hut　or　two；　with　a
nude　Hottentot　eating　flesh；　burnt　a　little；　but　not　cooked；　at　the
door；　and　the　kloofs　became　deeper　and　more　turbid；　and　Phoebe　was
in　an　agony　about　her　salt；　and　Christopher　advised　her　to　break　it
in　big　lumps；　and　hang　it　all　about　the　wagon　in　sacks；　and　she
did；　and　Ucatella　said　profoundly；　〃My　child　is　wise；〃　and　they
began　to　draw　near　home；　and　Phoebe　to　fidget；　and　she　said　to
Christopher；　〃Oh；　dear！　　I　hope　they　are　all　alive　and　well：　once
you　leave　home；　you　don't　know　what　may　have　happened　by　then　you
come　back。　　One　comfort；　I've　got　Sophy：　she　is　very　dependable；
and　no　beauty；　thank　my　stars。〃

That　night；　the　last　they　had　to　travel；　was　cloudy；　for　a　wonder；
and　they　groped　with　lanterns。

Ucatella　and　her　child　brought　up　the　rear。　　Presently　there　was　a
light　pattering　behind　them。　　The　swift…eared　Ucatella　clutched
Christopher's　arm；　and　turning　round；　pointed　back；　with　eyeballs
white　and　rolling。　　There　were　full　a　dozen　animals　following　them；
whose　bodies　seemed　colorless　as　shadows；　but　their　eyes　little
balls　of　flaming　lime…light。

〃GUN！〃　said　Christie；　and　gave　the　Kafir's　arm　a　pinch。　　She　flew
to　the　caravan；　he　walked　backwards；　facing　the　foe。　　The　wagon　was
halted；　and　Dick　ran　back　with　two　loaded　rifles。　　In　his　haste　he
gave　one　to　Christopher；　and　repented　at　leisure；　but　Christopher
took　it；　and　handled　it　like　an　experienced　person；　and　said；　with
delight；　〃VOLUNTEER。〃　　But　with　this　the　cautious　animals　had
vanished　like　bubbles。　　But　Dick　told　Christopher　they　would　be
sure　to　come　back；　he　ordered　Ucatella　into　the　wagon；　and　told　her
to　warn　Phoebe　not　to　be　frightened　if　guns　should　be　fired。　　This
soothing　message　brought　Phoebe's　white　face　out　between　the
curtains；　and　she　implored　them　to　get　into　the　wagon；　and　not
tempt　Providence。

〃Not　till　I　have　got　thee　a　kaross　of　jackal's　fur。〃

〃I'll　never　wear　it！〃　said　Phoebe　violently；　to　divert　him　from　his
purpose。

〃Time　will　show；〃　said　Dick　dryly。　　〃These　varmint　are　on　and　off
like　shadows；　and　as　cunning　as　Old　Nick。　　We　two　will　walk　on
quite　unconcerned　like；　and　as　soon　as　ever　the　varmint　are　at　our
heels　you　give　us　the　office；　and　we'll　pepper　their　furwon't　we；
doctor？〃

〃Wewillpeppertheir　fur；〃　said　Christopher；　repeating　what　to
him　was　a　lesson　in　the　ancient　and　venerable　English　tongue。

So　they　walked　on　expectant；　and　by　and　by　the　four…footed　shadows
with　large　lime…light　eyes　came　stealing　on；　and　Phoebe　shrieked；
and　they　vanished　before　the　men　could　draw　a　bead　on　them。

〃Thou's　no　use　at　this　work；　Pheeb；〃　said　Dick。　　〃Shut　thy　eyes；
and　let　us　have　Yuke。〃

〃Iss；　master：　here　I　be。〃

〃You　can　bleat　like　a　lamb；　for　I've　heard　ye。〃

〃Iss；　master。　　I　bleats　beautiful；〃　and　she　showed　snowy　teeth　from
ear　to　ear。

〃Well；　then；　when　the　varmint　are　at　our　heels；　draw　in　thy　woolly
head；　and　bleat　like　a　young　lamb。　　They　won't　turn　from　that；　I
know；　the　vagabonds。〃

Matters　being　thus　prepared；　they　sauntered　on；　but　the　jackals
were　very　wary。　　They　came　like　shadows；　so　departeda　great　many
times：　but　at　last　being　re…enforced；　they　lessened　the　distance；
and　got　so　close；　that　Ucatella　withdrew　her　head；　and　bleated
faintly　inside　the　wagon。　　The　men　turned；　levelling　their　rifles；
and　found　the　troop　within　twenty　yards　of　them。　　They　wheeled
directly：　but　the　four　barrels　poured　their　flame；　four　loud
reports　startled　the　night；　and　one　jackal　lay　dead　as　a　stone；
another　limped　behind　the　flying　crowd；　and　one　lay　kicking。　　He
was　soon　despatched；　and　both　carcasses　flung　over　the　patient
oxen；　and　good…by　jackals　for　the　rest　of　that　journey。

Ucatella；　with　all　a　Kafir's　love　of　fire…arms；　clapped　her　hands
with　delight。　　〃My　child　shoots　loud　and　strong；〃　said　she。

〃Ay；　ay；〃　replied　Phoebe；　〃they　are　all　alike；　wherever　there's
men；　look　for　quarrelling　and　firing　off。　　We　had　only　to　sit　quiet
in　the　wagon。〃

〃Ay。〃　said　Dick；　〃the　cattle　especiallyfor　it　is　them　the　varmint
were　afterand　let　'em　eat　my　Hottentots。〃

At　this　picture　of　the　cattle　inside　the　wagon；　and　the　jackals
supping　on　cold　Hottentot　alongside；　Phoebe；　who　had　no　more　humor
than　a　cat；　but　a　heart　of　gold；　shut　up；　and　turned　red　with
confusion　at　her　false　estimate　of　the　recent　transaction　in　fur。

When　the　sun　rose　they　found　themselves　in　a　tract　somewhat　less
arid　and　inhuman；　and；　at　last；　at　the　rise　of　a　gentle　slope；　they
saw；　half　a　mile　before　them；　a　large　farmhouse　partly　clad　with
creepers；　and　a　little　plot　of　turf；　the　fruit　of　eternal　watering；
item；　a　flower…bed；　item；　snow…white　palings；　item；　an　air　of
cleanliness　and　neatness　scarcely　known　to　those　dirty　descendants
of　clean　ancestors；　the　Boers。　　At　some　distance　a　very　large　dam
glittered　in　the　sun；　and　a　troop　of　snow…white　sheep　were　watering
at　it。

〃ENGLAND！〃　cried　Christopher。

〃Ay；　sir；〃　said　Phoebe；　〃as　nigh　as　man　can　make　it。〃　　But　soon　she
began　to　fret：　〃Oh；　dear！　where　are　they　all？　　If　it　was　me；　I'd　be
at　the　door　looking　out。　　Ah；　there　goes　Yuke　to　rouse　them　up。〃

〃Come；　Pheeb；　don't　you　fidget；〃　said　Dick　kindly。　　〃Why；　the　lazy
lot　are　scarce　out　of　their　beds　by　this　time。〃

〃More　shame　for　'em。　　If　they　were　away　from　me；　and　coming　home；　I
should　be　at　the　door　day　AND　night；　I　know。　　Ah！〃

She　uttered　a　scream　of　delight；　for　just　then；　out　came　Ucatella；
with　little　Tommy　on　her　shoulder；　and　danced　along　to　meet　her。
As　she　came　close；　she　raised　the　chubby　child　high　in　the　air；　and
he　crowed；　and　then　she　lowered　him　to　his　mother；　who　rushed　at
him；　seized；　and　devoured　him　with　a　hundred　inarticulate　cries　of
joy　and　love　unspeakable。

〃NATURE！〃　said　Christopher　dogmatically；　recognizing　an　old
acquaintance；　and　booking　it　as　one　more　conquest　gained　over　the
past。　　But　there　was　too　much　excitement　over　the　cherub　to　attend
to　him。　　So　he　watched　the　woman　gravely；　and　began　to　moralize
with　all　his　might。　　〃This；〃　said　he；　〃is　what　we　used　to　call
maternal　love；　and　all　animals　had　it；　and　that　is　why　the　noble
savage　went　for　him。　　It　was　very　good　of　you；　Miss　Savage；〃　said
the　poor　soul　sententiously。

〃Good　of　her！〃　cried　Phoebe。　　〃She　is　all　goodness。　　Savage；　find
me　a　Dutchwoman　like　her！　　I'll　give　her　a　good　cuddle　for　it；〃　and
she　took　the　Kafir　round　the　neck；　and　gave　her　a　hearty　kiss；　and
made　the　little　boy　kiss　her　too。

At　this　moment　out　came　a　collie　dog；　hunting　Ucatella　by　scent
alone；　which　process　landed　him　headlong　in　the　group；　he　gave　loud
barks　of　recognition；　fawned　on　Phoebe　and　Dick；　smelt　poor
Christopher；　gave　a　growl　of　suspicion；　and　lurked　about　squinting；
dissatisfied；　and　lowering　his　tail。

〃Thou　art　wrong；　lad；　for　once；〃　said　Dick；　〃for　he's　an　old
friend；　and　a　good　one。〃

〃After　the　dog；　perhaps　some　Christian　will　come　to　welcome　us；〃
said　poor　Phoebe。

Obedient　to　the　wish；　out　walked　Sophy；　the　English　nurse；　a
scraggy　woman；　with　a　very　cocked　nose　and　thin；　pinched　lips；　and
an　air　of　respectability　and　pertness　mingled。　　She　dropped　a　short
courtesy；　shot　the　glance　of　a　basilisk　at　Ucatella；　and　said
stiffly；　〃You　are　welcome　home；　ma'am。〃　　Then　she　took　the　little
boy　as　one　having　authority。　　Not　that　Phoebe　would　have
surrendered　him；　but　just　then　Mr。　Falcon　strolled　out；　with　a
cigar　in　his　mouth；　and　Phoebe；　with　her　heart　in　HER　mouth；　flew
to　meet　him。　　There　was　a　rapturous　conjugal　embrace；　followed　by
mutual　inquiries；　and　the　wagon　drew　up　at　the　door。　　Then；　for　the
first　time；　Falcon　observed　Staines；　saw　at　once　he　was　a
gentleman；　and　touched　his　hat　to　him；　to　which　Christopher
responded　in　kind；　and　remembered　he　had　done　so　in　the　locked…up
past。

Phoebe　instantly　drew　her　husband　apart　by　the　sleeve。　　〃Who