masterman ready-第35章
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now； but next year； if we find more food on the island； we must keep the grass near home； to make hay and stack it for the winter time … or the rainy season rather； for there is no winter in these latitudes。 I'm pretty sure we shall find some clear land on the south of the island； for the cocoa…nut grove does not extend so close to the water on that side as it does on the north。〃
〃I do so long to go on our exploring party；〃 said William。
〃We must wait a little；〃 replied Ready； 〃but I don't know whether you will go； we must not all three go at once； and leave Mrs。 Seagrave alone。〃
〃No；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃that would not be fair； either you or I must remain； William。〃
William made no reply； but it was evident that he was annoyed at the idea of not being of the party。 They worked very hard that day； and the walls rose fast out of the water。
After supper； Ready continued his narrative。 〃We remained concealed until it was dark； and then Hastings and Romer； each with a musket on his shoulders and a ham at his back； and I； being the smallest； with the rifle and the great loaf of bread； set off on our journey。 Our intention was to travel north； as we knew that was the road leading from the colony； but Hastings had decided that we should first go to the eastward； so as to make what we sailors call a circumbendibus； which would keep us out of the general track。 We passed through the deep sands of False Bay； and after that gradually ascended； getting among brushwood and young trees； but we saw no signs of cultivation； nor did we pass one house after we had left False Bay astern of us。 About twelve o'clock we were very much fatigued； and longed for a drink of water； but we did not find any； although the moon shone as bright as day。 We distinctly heard； however； what we did not much like； the howling and cries of the wild beasts which increased as we went on； still we did not see any； and that was our comfort。 At last we were so tired that we all sat down on the ledge of a rock。 We dared not go to sleep； so we remained there till daylight； listening to the howling of the animals。 We none of us spoke； and I presume that Hastings' and Romer's thoughts were the same as my own； which were； that I would have given a great deal to find myself safe and sound again within the prison walls。 However； daylight came at last； the wild beasts did not prowl any more； we walked on till we found a stream of water； where we sat down and took our breakfast； after which our courage revived； and we talked and laughed as we walked on； just as we had done before。 We now began to ascend the mountains； which Hastings said must be the Black Mountains that the soldiers had talked to us about。 They were very desolate； and when night came on we collected brushwood； and cut down branches with our knives； that we might make a fire； not only to warm ourselves； but to scare away the wild beasts； whose howling had already commenced。 We lighted our fire and ate our supper； the loaf was half gone； and the hams had been well cut into … we knew； therefore； that very soon we should have to trust to our guns for procuring food。 As soon as we had finished our meal； we lay down by the fire； with our muskets loaded close to us； and our ammunition placed out of danger。 We were so tired that we were soon fast asleep。 It had been agreed that Romer should keep the first watch； and Hastings the middle； and I the morning； but Romer fell asleep； and the consequence was； that the fire was not kept up。 It was about midnight that I was awakened by something breathing hard in my face； and just as I could recall my senses and open my eyes； I found myself lifted up by my waistband； and the teeth of some animal pinching my flesh。 I tried to catch at my musket； but I put out my wrong hand； and laid hold of a still lighted brand out of the fire； which I darted into the animal's face； it let me drop directly； and ran away。〃
〃What a providential escape！〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃Yes； it was； ma'am； the animal was a hyena。 Fortunately they are a very cowardly sort of beast； still； had it not been for the lighted stick； it would have carried me off； for I was very small then； and it lifted me up as if I was a feather in its mouth。 The shout I gave woke Hastings； who seized his musket and fired。 I was very much frightened； as you may suppose。 As for Romer； he never woke till we pushed him hard； he was so completely knocked up。 This affair； of course； made us more cautious； and afterwards we lighted two fires； and slept between them； one always remaining on the watch。 For a week we travelled on； and as soon as we were over the mountains； we turned our heads to the northward。 Our provisions were all gone； and we were one day without any； but we killed an antelope called a spring…bock； which gave us provisions for three or four days： there was no want of game after we had descended into the plain。 I forgot to mention； however； a narrow escape we had； just before we had left an extensive forest on the side of the mountain。 We had walked till past noon； and were very much tired； we decided upon taking our dinner under a large tree； and we threw ourselves down in the shade。 Hastings was lying on his back； with his eyes looking upwards； when he perceived on the lower branch of the tree a panther； which lay along it； his green eyes fixed upon us； and ready to spring； he seized his musket； and fired it without taking aim； for there was no time； but the ball entered the stomach of the animal； and； as it appeared； divided its back…bone。 Down came the beast； within three or four feet of where we lay； with a loud roar； and immediately crouched to spring upon Romer； but it could not； for the back…bone being broken； it had not any power in its hinder quarters； so it raised up its fore quarters； and then dropped down again。 I never saw such rage and fury in an animal in my life。 At first we were too much frightened to fire； but； perceiving that the beast could not spring； Hastings snatched the musket from Romer and shot it through the head。
〃We were now obliged to hunt for our livelihood； and we became bolder than ever。 Our clothes were all in rags； but we had plenty of powder and ammunition； there were hundreds and hundreds of antelopes and gnus in the plain … indeed； sometimes it was impossible to count them。 But this plentiful supply of game was the cause of our being in greater danger； for now； for the first time； we heard the roar of the lions every night。 We made large fires to keep them off； but they often made us tremble when they came near to us。〃
〃Did you ever meet with one in the day…time？〃 said William。
〃Yes； sir； we often saw them； but they never attacked us； and we were too much afraid to fire at them。 Once we met one face to face。 We had killed an antelope called a hartebeest； and； with our muskets on our shoulders； were running to secure it。 Just as we came up to the spot； we beard a roar； and found ourselves not ten yards from a lion； who was lying on the top of the beast we had killed； his eyes flashing fire at us； and half raising himself； as if ready for a spring。 We all took to our heels as fast as we could。 I never looked back till I was out of breath： but the lion was content with our running away； and did not take the trouble to follow us。 Well； sir； we had been travelling； we really hardly knew where； but certainly in a northerly direction； for three weeks； and were quite worn out： we now all agreed that we had done a very foolish thing； and would gladly have gone back again。 For my part； I declare that I was willing to lie down and die； if I could have so done； and I became quite indifferent to the roaring of the lions； and felt as if I should be glad if one would have made a meal of me。 At length； one morning； we fell in with a party of natives。 They were of the Karroo tribe； as they told us by pointing to themselves； and saying； ‘Karroos'； and then they pointed to us； and said ‘Dutch'。 We shot game； and gave it to them； which pleased them very much； and they remained with us for five or six days。 We tried by signs to inquire of them； if there were any Dutch settlement about there； and they understood us； and said that there was； in a direction which they pointed out to
