she-第18章
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nor did we see him again for five days。
When he had gone we discussed the situation； which
filled me with alarm。 I did not at all like the
accounts of this mysterious queen； 〃 _i_ She…who…must…
be…obeyed _i_ ；〃 or more shortly _i_ She _i_ ； who
apparently ordered the execution of any unfortunate
stranger in a fashion so unmerciful。 Leo； too； was
depressed about it； but proceeded to console himself
by triumphantly pointing out that this _i_ She _i_ was
undoubtedly the person referred to in the writing on
the potsherd and in his father's letter； in proof of
which he advanced Billali's allusions to her age and
power。 I was by this time so overwhelmed with the
whole course of events that I had not even got the
heart left to dispute a proposition so absurd； so I
suggested that we should try and go out and get a
bath； of which we all stood sadly in need。
Accordingly； having indicated our wish to a middle…
aged individual of an unusually saturnine cast of
countenance； even among this saturnine people； who
appeared to be deputed to look after us now that the
Father of the hamlet had departed； we started in a
bodyhaving first lit our pipes。 Outside the cave we
found quite a crowd of people evidently watching for
our appearance； but when they saw us come out smoking
they vanished this way and that； calling out that we
were great magicians。 Indeed； nothing about us created
so great a sensation as our tobacco smokenot even
our firearms。 After this we succeeded in reaching a
stream that had its source in a strong ground spring；
and taking our bath in peace； though some of the
women； not excepting Ustane； showed a decided
inclination to follow us even there。
By the time that we had finished this most refreshing
bath the sun was setting； indeed； when we got back to
the big cave it had already set。 The cave itself was
full of people gathered round firesfor several more
had now been lightedand eating their evening meal by
their lurid light； and by that of various lamps which
were set about or hung upon the walls。 These lamps
were of a rude manufacture of baked earthenware； and
of all shapes； some of them graceful enough。 The
larger ones were formed of big red earthenware pots；
filled with clarified melted fat； and having a reed
wick stuck through a wooden disk which filled the top
of the pot； and this sort of lamp required the most
constant attention to prevent its going out whenever
the wick burned down； as there were no means of
turning it up。 The smaller hand…lamps； however； which
were also made of baked clay； were fitted with wicks
manufactured from the pith of a palm…tree； or
sometimes from the stem of a very handsome variety of
fern。 This kind of wick was passed through a round
hole at the end of the lamp； to which a sharp piece of
hard wood was attached wherewith to pierce and draw it
up whenever it showed signs of burning low。
For a while we sat down and watched this grim people
eating their evening meal in silence as grim as
themselves； till at length； getting tired of
contemplating them and the huge moving shadows on the
rocky walls； I suggested to our new keeper that we
should like to go to bed。
Without a word； he rose； and； taking me politely by
the hand； advanced with a lamp to one of the small
passages that I had noticed opening out of the central
cave。 This we followed for about five paces； when it
suddenly widened out into a small chamber； about eight
feet square； and hewn out of the living rock。 On one
side of this chamber was a stone slab； about three
feet from the ground； and running its entire length
like a bunk in a cabin； and on this slab he intimated
that I was to sleep。 There was no window or air…hole
to the chamber； and no furniture； and； on looking at
it more closely； I came to the disturbing conclusion
（in which； as I afterwards discovered； I was quite
right） that it had originally served for a sepulchre
for the dead rather than a sleeping…place for the
living； the slab being designed to receive the corpse
of the departed。 The thought made me shudder in spite
of myself； but； seeing that I must sleep somewhere； I
got over the feeling as best I might； and returned to
the cavern to get my blanket； which had been brought
up from the boat with the other things。 There I met
Job； who； having been inducted to a similar apartment；
had flatly declined to stop in it； saying that the
look of the place gave him the horrors； and that he
might as well be dead and buried in his grandfather's
brick grave at once； and expressed his determination
of sleeping with me if I would allow him。 This； of
course； I was only too glad to do。
The night passed very comfortably on the whole。 I say
on the whole； for personally I went through a most
horrible nightmare of being buried alive； induced； no
doubt； by the sepulchral nature of my surroundings。 At
dawn we were aroused by a loud trumpeting sound；
produced； as we afterwards discovered； by a young
Amahagger blowing； through a hole bored in its side；
into a hollowed elephant tusk； which was kept for the
purpose。
Taking the hint； we got up and went down to the stream
to wash； after which the morning meal was served。 At
breakfast one of the women； no longer quite young；
advanced； and publicly kissed Job。 I think it was in
its way the most delightful thing （putting its
impropriety aside for a moment） that I ever saw。 Never
shall I forget the respectable Job's abject terror and
disgust。 Job； like myself； is a bit of a misogynistI
fancy chiefly owing to the fact of his having been one
of a family of seventeenand the feelings expressed
upon his countenance when he realized that he was not
only being embraced publicly； and without
authorization on his own part； but also in the
presence of his masters； were too mixed and painful to
admit of accurate description。 He sprang to his feet；
and pushed the woman； a buxom person of about thirty；
from him。
〃Well； I never！〃 he gasped； whereupon； probably
thinking that he was only coy； she embraced him again。
〃Be off with you！ Get away； you minx！〃 he shouted；
waving the wooden spoon； with which he was eating his
breakfast； up and down before the lady's face。 〃Beg
your pardon； gentlemen； I am sure I。 haven't
encouraged her。 Oh； Lord！ she's coming for me again。
Hold her； Mr。 Holly！ please hold her！ I can't stand
it； I can't； indeed。 This has never happened to me
before； gentlemen； never。 There's nothing against my
character；〃 and here he broke off； and ran as hard as
he could go down the cave； and for once I saw the
Amahagger laugh。 As for the woman； however； she did
not laugh。 On the contrary； she seemed to bristle with
fury； which the mockery of the other women about only
served to intensify。 She stood there literally
snarling and shaking with indignation； and； seeing
her； I wished Job's scruples had been at Jericho；
forming a shrewd guess that his admirable behavior had
endangered our throats。 Nor； as the sequel shows； was
I wrong。
The lady having retreated； Job returned in a great
state of nervousness； and keeping his weather eye
fixed upon every woman who came near him。 I took an
opportunity to explain to our hosts that Job was a
married man； and had had very unhappy experiences in
his domestic relations； which accounted for his
presence here and his terror at the sight of women；
but my remarks were received in grim silence； it being
evident that our retainer's behavior was considered as
a slight to the 〃household〃 at large； although the
women； after the manner of some of their more
civilized sisters； made merry at the rebuff of their
companion。
After breakfast we took a walk and inspected the
Amahagger herds； and also their cultivated lands。 They
have two breeds of cattle； one large and angular； with
no horns； but yielding beautiful milk； and the other；
a red breed； very small and fat； excellent for meat；
but of no value for milking purposes。 This last breed
closely resembles the Norfolk red…pole strain； only it
has horns which generally curve forward
