the land of footprints-第11章

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　remember　afterward　with　any　accuracy　what　had　happened…which　way　the　beast　was　pointing；　how　many　there　were　of　them；　in　which　direction　they　went；　how　many　shots　were　fired；　in　short　all　the　smaller　details　of　the　affair。　He　thought　he　remembered。　After　the　show　was　over　it　was　quite　amusing　to　get　his　version　of　the　incident。　It　was　almost　always　so　wide　of　the　fact　as　to　be　little　recognizable。　And；　mind　you；　he　was　perfectly　sincere　in　his　belief；　and　absolutely　courageous。　Only　he　was　quite　unfitted　by　physical　make…up　for　a　big　game　hunter；　and　I　was　relieved　when；　after　a　short　time；　his　route　and　mine　separated。

Well；　we　clambered　up　that　slope　with　a　fine　compound　of　tension；　expectation；　and　latent　uneasiness　as　to　just　what　was　going　to　happen；　anyway。　Finally；　we　raised　the　backs　of　the　beasts；　stooped；　sneaked　a　little　nearer；　and　finally　at　a　signal　stood　upright　perhaps　forty　yards　from　the　brutes。

For　the　first　time　I　experienced　a　sensation　I　was　destined　many　times　to　repeat…that　of　the　sheer　size　of　the　animals。　Menagerie　rhinoceroses　had　been　of　the　smaller　Indian　variety；　and　in　any　case　most　menagerie　beasts　are　more　or　less　stunted。　These　two；　facing　us；　their　little　eyes　blinking；　looked　like　full…grown　ironclads　on　dry　land。　The　moment　we　stood　erect　B。　fired　at　the　larger　of　the　two。　Instantly　they　turned　and　were　off　at　a　tearing　run。　I　opened　fire；　and　B。　let　loose　his　second　barrel。　At　about　two　hundred　and　fifty　yards　the　big　rhinoceros　suddenly　fell　on　his　side；　while　the　other　continued　his　flight。　It　was　all　over…very　exciting　because　we　got　excited；　but　not　in　the　least　dangerous。

The　boys　were　delighted；　for　here　was　meat　in　plenty　for　everybody。　We　measured　the　beast；　photographed　him；　marvelled　at　his　immense　size；　and　turned　him　over　to　the　gunbearers　for　treatment。　In　half　an　hour　or　so　a　long　string　of　porters　headed　across　the　hills　in　the　direction　of　camp；　many　miles　distant；　each　carrying　his　load　either　of　meat；　or　the　trophies。　Rhinoceros　hide；　properly　treated；　becomes　as　transparent　as　amber；　and　so　from　it　can　be　made　many　very　beautiful　souvenirs；　such　as　bowls；　trays；　paper　knives；　table　tops；　whips；　canes；　and　the　like。　And；　of　course；　the　feet　of　one's　first　rhino　are　always　saved　for　cigar　boxes　or　inkstands。

Already　we　had　an　admiring　and　impatient　audience。　From　all　directions　came　the　carrion　birds。　They　circled　far　up　in　the　heavens；　they　shot　downward　like　plummets　from　a　great　height　with　an　inspiring　roar　of　wings；　they　stood　thick　in　a　solemn　circle　all　around　the　scene　of　the　kill；　they　rose　with　a　heavy　flapping　when　we　moved　in　their　direction。　Skulking　forms　flashed　in　the　grass；　and　occasionally　the　pointed　ears　of　a　jackal　would　rise　inquiringly。

It　was　by　now　nearly　noon。　The　sun　shone　clear　and　hot；　the　heat　shimmer　rose　in　clouds　from　the　brown　surface　of　the　hills。　In　all　directions　we　could　make　out　small　gameherds　resting　motionless　in　the　heat　of　the　day；　the　mirage　throwing　them　into　fantastic　shapes。　While　the　final　disposition　was　being　made　of　the　defunct　rhinoceros　I　wandered　over　the　edge　of　the　hill　to　see　what　I　could　see；　and　fairly　blundered　on　a　herd　of　oryx　at　about　a　hundred　and　fifty　yards　range。　They　looked　at　me　a　startled　instant；　then　leaped　away　to　the　left　at　a　tremendous　speed。　By　a　lucky　shot；　I　bowled　one　over。　He　was　a　beautiful　beast；　with　his　black　and　white　face　and　his　straight　rapierlike　horns　nearly　three　feet　long；　and　I　was　most　pleased　to　get　him。　Memba　Sasa　came　running　at　the　sound　of　the　shot。　We　set　about　preparing　the　head。

Then　through　a　gap　in　the　hills　far　to　the　left　we　saw　a　little　black　speck　moving　rapidly　in　our　direction。　At　the　end　of　a　minute　we　could　make　it　out　as　the　second　rhinoceros。　He　had　run　heaven　knows　how　many　miles　away；　and　now　he　was　returning；　whether　with　some　idea　of　rejoining　his　companion　or　from　sheer　chance；　I　do　not　know。　At　any　rate；　here　he　was；　still　ploughing　along　at　his　swinging　trot。　His　course　led　him　along　a　side　hill　about　four　hundred　yards　from　where　the　oryx　lay。　When　he　was　directly　opposite　I　took　the　Springfield　and　fired；　not　at　him；　but　at　a　spot　five　or　six　feet　in　front　of　his　nose。　The　bullet　threw　up　a　column　of　dust。　Rhino　brought　up　short　with　astonishment；　wheeled　to　the　left；　and　made　off　at　a　gallop。　I　dropped　another　bullet　in　front　of　him。　Again　he　stopped；　changed　direction；　and　made　off。　For　the　third　time　I　hit　the　ground　in　front　of　him。　Then　he　got　angry；　put　his　head　down　and　charged　the　spot。

Five　more　shots　I　expended　on　the　amusement　of　that　rhinoceros；　and　at　the　last　had　run　furiously　charging　back　and　forth　in　a　twenty…yard　space；　very　angry　at　the　little　puffing；　screeching　bullets；　but　quite　unable　to　catch　one。　Then　he　made　up　his　mind　and　departed　the　way　he　had　come；　finally　disappearing　as　a　little　rapidly　moving　black　speck　through　the　gap　in　the　hills　where　we　had　first　caught　sight　of　him。

We　finished　caring　for　the　oryx；　and　returned　to　camp。　To　our　surprise　we　found　we　were　at　least　seven　or　eight　miles　out。

In　this　fashion　days　passed　very　quickly。　The　early　dewy　start　in　the　cool　of　the　morning；　the　gradual　grateful　warming　up　of　sunrise；　and　immediately　after；　the　rest　during　the　midday　heats　under　a　shady　tree；　the　long　trek　back　to　camp　at　sunset；　the　hot　bath　after　the　toilsome　day…all　these　were　very　pleasant。　Then　the　swift　falling　night；　and　the　gleam　of　many　tiny　fires　springing　up　out　of　the　darkness；　with　each　its　sticks　full　of　meat　roasting；　and　its　little　circle　of　men；　their　skins　gleaming　in　the　light。　As　we　sat　smoking；　we　would　become　aware　that　M'ganga；　the　headman；　was　standing　silent　awaiting　orders。　Some　one　would　happen　to　see　the　white　of　his　eyes；　or　perhaps　he　might　smile　so　that　his　teeth　would　become　visible。　Otherwise　he　might　stand　there　an　hour；　and　no　one　the　wiser；　for　he　was　respectfully　silent；　and　exactly　the　colour　of　the　night。

We　would　indicate　to　him　our　plans　for　the　morrow；　and　he　would　disappear。　Then　at　a　distance　of　twenty　or　thirty　feet　from　the　front　of　our　tents　a　tiny　tongue　of　flame　would　lick　up。　Dark　figures　could　be　seen　manipulating　wood。　A　blazing　fire　sprang　up；　against　which　we　could　see　the　motionless　and　picturesque　figure　of　Saa…sita　（Six　o'Clock）；　the　askari　of　the　first　night　watch；　leaning　on　his　musket。　He　was　a　most　picturesque　figure；　for　his　fancy　ran　to　original　headdresses；　and　at　the　moment　he　affected　a　wonderful　upstanding　structure　made　of　marabout　wings。

At　this　sign　that　the　night　had　begun；　we　turned　in。　A　few　hyenas　moaned；　a　few　jackals　barked：　otherwise　the　first　part　of　the　night　was　silent；　for　the　hunters　were　at　their　silent　business；　and　the　hunted　were　〃layin'　low　and　sayin'　nuffin'。〃

Day　after　day　we　rode　out；　exploring　the　country　in　different　directions。　The　great　uncertainty　as　to　what　of　interest　we　would　find　filled　the　hours　with　charm。　Sometimes　we　clambered　about　the　cliffs　of　the　buttes　trying　to　find　klipspringers；　again　we　ran　miles　pursuing　the　gigantic　eland。　I　in　turn　got　my　first　rhinoceros；　with　no　more　danger　than　had　attended　the　killing　of　B。's。　On　this　occasion；　however；　I　had　my　first　experience　of　the　lightning　skill　of　the　first…class　gunbearer。　Having　fired　both　barrels；　and　staggered　the　beast；　I　threw　open　the　breech　and　withdrew　the　empty　cartridges；　intending；　of　course；　as　my　next　move　to　fish　two　more　out　of　my　belt。　The　empty　shells　were　hardly　away　from　the　chambers；　however；　when　a　long　brown　arm　shot　over　my　right　shoulder　and　popped　two　fresh　cartridges　in　the　breech。　So　astonished　was　I　at　this　unexpected　apparition；　that　for　a　second　or　so　I　actually　forgot　to　close　the　gun。



VII。　ON　THE　MARCH

After　leaving　the　First　Game　Camp；　we　travelled　many　hours　and　miles　over　rolling　hills　piling　ever　higher　and　higher　until　they　broke　through　a　pass　to　illimitable　plains。　These　plains　were　mantled　with　the　dense　scrub；　looking　from　a　distance　and　from　above　like　the　nap　of　soft　green　velvet。　Here　and　there　this　scrub　broke　in　round　or　oval　patches　of　grass　plain。　Great　mountain　ranges　peered　over　the　edge　of　a　horizon。　Lesser　mountain　peaks　of　fantastic　shapes…sheer　Yosemite　cliffs；