child of storm-第12章
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ridge； whence I could see the dry vlei below。 Here the mists of dawn
still clung； but from it rose sounds of grunts； bellows and tramplings
which I； an old hunter； could not mistake。 Evidently a herd of buffalo；
one or two hundred of them； had established themselves in those reeds。
Just then my bastard servant； Scowl； and Saduko joined us； both of them
full of excitement。
It appeared that Scowl； who never seemed to sleep at any natural time；
had seen the buffalo entering the reeds； and estimated their number at
two or three hundred。 Saduko had examined the cleft through which they
passed； and reported it to be so narrow that we could kill any number of
them as they rushed out to escape。
〃Quite so。 I understand；〃 I said。 〃Well； my opinion is that we had
better let them escape。 Only four of us； counting Umbezi； are armed
with guns； and assegais are not of much use against buffalo。 Let them
go； I say。〃
Umbezi； thinking of a cheap raw material for the shields which had been
requisitioned by the King； who would surely be pleased if they were made
of such a rare and tough hide as that of buffalo； protested violently；
and Saduko； either to please one whom he hoped might be his
father…in…law or from sheer love of sport； for which he always had a
positive passion； backed him up。 Only Scowlwhose dash of Hottentot
blood made him cunning and cautioustook my side； pointing out that we
were very short of powder and that buffalo 〃ate up much lead。〃 At last
Saduko said：
〃The lord Macumazana is our captain； we must obey him； although it is a
pity。 But doubtless the prophesying of Zikali weighs upon his mind； so
there is nothing to be done。〃
〃Zikali！〃 exclaimed Umbezi。 〃What has the old dwarf to do with this
matter？〃
〃Never mind what he has or has not to do with it；〃 I broke in； for
although I do not think that he meant them as a taunt； but merely as a
statement of fact； Saduko's words stung me to the quick； especially as
my conscience told me that they were not altogether without foundation。
〃We will try to kill some of these buffalo；〃 I went on； 〃although；
unless the herd should get bogged； which is not likely； as the swamp is
very dry； I do not think that we can hope for more than eight or ten at
the most； which won't be of much use for shields。 Come； let us make a
plan。 We have no time to lose； for I think they will begin to move
again before the sun is well up。〃
Half an hour later the four of us who were armed with guns were posted
behind rocks on either side of the steep； natural roadway cut by water；
which led down to the vlei； and with us some of Umbezi's men。 That
chief himself was at my sidea post of honour which he had insisted
upon taking。 To tell the truth； I did not dissuade him； for I thought
that I should be safer so than if he were opposite to me； since； even if
the old rifle did not go off of its own accord； Umbezi； when excited；
was a most uncertain shot。 The herd of buffalo appeared to have lain
down in the reeds； so； being careful to post ourselves first； we sent
three of the native bearers to the farther side of the vlei； with
instructions to rouse the beasts by shouting。 The remainder of the
Zulusthere were ten or a dozen of them armed with stabbing spearswe
kept with us。
But what did these scoundrels do？ Instead of disturbing the herd by
making a noise； as we told them； for some reason best known to
themselvesI expect it was because they were afraid to go into the
vlei； where they might meet the horn of a buffalo at any momentthey
fired the dry reeds in three or four places at once； and this； if you
please； with a strong wind blowing from them to us。 In a minute or two
the farther side of the swamp was a sheet of crackling flame that gave
off clouds of dense white smoke。 Then pandemonium began。
The sleeping buffalo leapt to their feet； and； after a few moments of
indecision； crashed towards us； the whole huge herd of them； snorting
and bellowing like mad things。 Seeing what was about to happen； I
nipped behind a big boulder； while Scowl shinned up a mimosa with the
swiftness of a cat and； heedless of its thorns； sat himself in an
eagle's nest at the top。 The Zulus with the spears bolted to take cover
where they could。 What became of Saduko I did not see； but old Umbezi；
bewildered with excitement； jumped into the exact middle of the roadway；
shouting：
〃They come！ They come！ Charge； buffalo folk； if you will。 The
Eater…up…of…Elephants awaits you！〃
〃You etceterad old fool！〃 I shouted； but got no farther； for just at
this moment the first of the buffalo； which I could see was an enormous
bull； probably the leader of the herd； accepted Umbezi's invitation and
came； with its nose stuck straight out in front of it。 Umbezi's gun
went off； and next instant he went up。 Through the smoke I saw his
black bulk in the air； and then heard it alight with a thud on the top
of the rock behind which I was crouching。
〃Exit Umbezi；〃 I said to myself； and by way of a requiem let the bull
which had hoisted him； as I thought to heaven； have an ounce of lead in
the ribs as it passed me。 After that I did not fire any more； for it
occurred to me that it was as well not to further advertise my presence。
In all my hunting experience I cannot remember ever seeing such a sight
as that which followed。 Out of the vlei rushed the buffalo by dozens；
every one of them making remarks in its own language as it came。 They
jammed in the narrow roadway； they leapt on to each other's backs。 They
squealed； they kicked； they bellowed。 They charged my friendly rock
till I felt it shake。 They knocked over Scowl's mimosa thorn； and would
have shot him out of his eagle's nest had not its flat top fortunately
caught in that of another and less accessible tree。 And with them came
clouds of pungent smoke； mixed with bits of burning reed and puffs of
hot air。
It was over at last。 With the exception of some calves； which had been
trampled to death in the rush； the herd had gone。 Now； like the Roman
emperorI think he was an emperorI began to wonder what had become of
my legions。
〃Umbezi；〃 I shouted； or； rather； sneezed through the smoke； 〃are you
dead； Umbezi？ 〃
〃Yes； yes； Macumazahn；〃 replied a choking and melancholy voice from the
top of the rock； 〃I am dead； quite dead。 That evil spirit of a silwana
＇i。e。 wild beast＇ has killed me。 Oh！ why did I think I was a hunter；
why did I not stop at my kraal and count my cattle？〃
〃I am sure I don't know； you old lunatic；〃 I answered； as I scrambled up
the rock to bid him good…bye。
It was a rock with a razor top like the ridge of a house； and there；
hanging across this ridge like a pair of nether garments on a
clothes…line； I found the 〃Eater…up…of…Elephants。〃
〃Where did he get you； Umbezi？〃 I asked； for I could not see his wounds
because of the smoke。
〃Behind； Macumazahn； behind！〃 he groaned； 〃for I had turned to fly； but；
alas！ too late。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 I replied； 〃for one so heavy you flew very well； like
a bird； Umbezi； like a bird。〃
〃Look and see what the evil beast has done to me； Macumazahn。 It will
be easy； for my moocha has gone。〃
So I looked； examining Umbezi's ample proportions with care； but could
discover nothing except a large smudge of black mud； as though he had
sat down in a half…dried puddle。 Then I guessed the truth。 The
buffalo's horns had missed him。 He had been struck only with its muddy
nose； which； being almost as broad as that portion of Umbezi with which
it came in contact； had inflicted nothing worse than a bruise。 When I
was sure he had received no serious injury； my temper； already sorely
tried； gave out； and I administered to him the soundest smackinghis
position being very convenientthat he had ever received since he was a
little boy。
〃Get up； you idiot！〃 I shouted； 〃and let us look for the others。 This
is the end of your folly in making me attack a herd of buffalo in reeds。
Get up。 Am I to stop here till I choke？〃
〃Do you mean to tell me that I have no mortal wound； Macumazahn？〃 he
asked； with a return of cheerfulness； accepting the castigation in good
part； for he was not one
