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第27章

marie-第27章

小说: marie 字数: 每页4000字

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a Portuguese prevented the natives from looting them。



It was a truly awful journey。  My first idea had been to follow the

banks of the Crocodile River; which is what I should have attempted had

I not chanced on the woman; Jeel。  Lucky was it that I did not do so;

since I found afterwards that this river wound about a great deal and

was joined by impassable tributaries。  Also it was bordered by forests。 

Jeel's track; on the contrary; followed an old slave road that; bad as

it was; avoided the swampy places of the surrounding country; and those

native tribes which the experience of generations of the traders in this

iniquitous traffic showed to be most dangerous。





Nine days of fearful struggle had gone by。  We had camped one night

below the crest of a long slope strewn with great rocks; many of which

we were obliged to roll out of the path by main force in order to make a

way for the wagons。  The oxen had to lie in their yokes all night; since

we dared not let them loose fearing lest they should stray; also lions

were roaring in the distance; although; game being plentiful; these did

not come near to us。  As soon as there was any light we let out the

teams to fill themselves on the tussocky grass that grew about; and

meanwhile cooked and ate some food。



Presently the sun rose; and I saw that beneath us was a great stretch of

plain covered with mist; and to the north; on our right; several denser

billows of mist that marked the course of the Crocodile River。



By degrees this mist lifted; tall tops of trees appearing above it; till

at length it thinned into vapour that vanished away as the sun rose。  As

I watched it idly; the woman; Jeel; crept up to me in her furtive

fashion; touched me on the shoulder and pointed to a distant group of

trees。



Looking closely at these trees; I saw between them what at first I took

for some white rocks。  Further examination; as the mist cleared;

suggested to my mind; however; that they might be wagon tilts。  Just

then the Zulu who understood Jeel's talk came up。  I asked him as well

as I could; for at that time my knowledge of his tongue was very

imperfect; what she wished to say。  He questioned her; and answered that

she desired to tell me that those were the moving houses of the Amaboona

(the Boer people); just where she had seen them nearly two moons ago。



At this tidings my heart seemed to stand still; so that for more than a

minute I could not speak。  There were the wagons at last; butoh! who

and what should I find in them?  I called Hans and bade him inspan as

quickly as possible; explaining to him that yonder was Marais's camp。



〃Why not let the oxen fill themselves first; baas?〃 he answered。  〃There

is no hurry; for though the wagons are there; no doubt all the people

are dead long ago。〃



〃Do what I bid you; you ill…omened beast;〃 I said; 〃instead of croaking

of death like a crow。  And listen: I am going to walk forward to that

camp; you must follow with the wagons as fast as they can travel。〃



〃No; baas; it is not safe that you should go alone。  Kaffirs or wild

beasts might take you。〃



〃Safe or not; I am going; but if you think it wise; tell two of those

Zulus to come with me。〃



A few minutes later I was on the road; followed by the two Kaffirs armed

with spears。  In my youth I was a good runner; being strong of leg and

light in body; but I do not think that I ever covered seven miles; for

that was about the distance to the camp; in quicker time than I did that

morning。  Indeed; I left those active Kaffirs so far behind that when I

approached the trees they were not in sight。  Here I dropped to a walk;

as I said to myselfto get my breath。  Really it was because I felt so

terrified at what I might find that I delayed the discovery just for one

minute more。  While I approached; hope; however faint; still remained;

when I arrived; hope might be replaced by everlasting despair。



Now I could see that there were some shanties built behind the wagons;

doubtless those 〃rude houses〃 of which Marie had written。  But I could

not see anyone moving about them; or any cattle or any smoke; or other

sign of life。  Nor could I hear a single sound。



Doubtless; thought I to myself; Hans is right。  They are all long dead。



My agony of suspense was replaced by an icy calm。  At length I knew the

worst。  It was finishedI had striven in vain。  I walked through the

outlying trees and between two of the wagons。  One of these I noticed;

as we do notice things at such times; was the same in which Marais had

trekked with his daughter; his favourite wagon that once I had helped to

fit with a new dissel…boom。



Before me were the rough houses built of the branches of trees; daubed

over with mud; or rather the backs of them; for they faced west。  I

stood still for a moment; and as I stood thought that I heard a faint

sound as of someone reciting slowly。  I crept along the end of the

outermost house and; rubbing the cold sweat from my eyes; peeped round

the corner; for it occurred to me that savages might be in possession。 

Then I saw what caused the sound。  A tattered; blackened; bearded man

stood at the head of a long and shallow hole saying a prayer。



It was Henri Marais; although at the time I did not recognise him; so

changed was he。  A number of little mounds to the right and left of him

told me; however; that the hole was a grave。  As I watched two more men

appeared; dragging between them the body of a woman; which evidently

they had not strength to carry; as its legs trailed upon the ground。 

From the shape of the corpse it seemed to be that of a tall young woman;

but the features I could not see; because it was being dragged face

downwards。  Also the long hair hanging from the head hid them。  It was

dark hair; like Marie's。  They reached the grave; and tumbled their sad

burden into it; but II could not stir!



At length my limbs obeyed my will。  I went forward to the men and said

in a hollow voice in Dutch:



〃Whom do you bury?〃



〃Johanna Meyer;〃 answered someone mechanically; for they did not seem to

have taken the trouble to look at me。  As I listened to those words my

heart; which had stood still waiting for the answer; beat again with a

sudden bound that I could hear in the silence。



I looked up。  There; advancing from the doorway of one of the houses;

very slowly; as though overpowered by weakness; and leading by the hand

a mere skeleton of a child; who was chewing some leaves; I sawI saw

_Marie Marais!_  She was wasted to nothing; but I could not mistake her

eyes; those great soft eyes that had grown so unnaturally large in the

white; thin face。



She too saw me and stared for one moment。  Then; loosing the child; she

cast up her hands; through which the sunlight shone as through

parchment; and slowly sank to the ground。



〃She has gone; too;〃 said one of the men in an indifferent voice。  〃I

thought she would not last another day。〃



Now for the first time the man at the head of the grave turned。  Lifting

his hand; he pointed to me; whereon the other two men turned also。



〃God above us!〃 he said in a choked voice; 〃at last I am quite mad。 

Look! there stands the spook of young Allan; the son of the English

predicant who lived near Cradock。〃



As soon as I heard the voice I knew the speaker。



〃Oh; Mynheer Marais!〃 I cried; 〃I am no ghost; I am Allan himself come

to save you。〃



Marais made no answer; he seemed bewildered。  But one of the men cried

out crazily:



〃How can you save us; youngster; unless you are ready to be eaten? 

Don't you see; we starve; we starve!〃



〃I have wagons and food;〃 I answered。



〃Allemachte! Henri;〃 exclaimed the man; with a wild laugh; 〃do you hear

what your English spook says?  He says that he has wagons and _food;

food; food!_〃



Then Marais burst into tears and flung himself upon my breast; nearly

knocking me down。  I wrenched myself

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