prester john-第16章

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　words　may　seem　a　small　thing　to　build　hope　on；　but　it　was　enough　for　me；　and　I　went　about　my　work　in　the　store　with　a　reasonably　light　heart。　　One　of　the　first　things　I　did　was　to　take　stock　of　our　armoury。　　There　were　five　sporting　Mausers　of　a　cheap　make；　one　Mauser　pistol；　a　Lee…Speed　carbine；　and　a　little　nickel…　plated　revolver。　　There　was　also　Japp's　shot…gun；　an　old　hammered　breech…loader；　as　well　as　the　gun　I　had　brought　out　with　me。　　There　was　a　good　supply　of　cartridges；　including　a　stock　for　a　。400　express　which　could　not　be　found。　　I　pocketed　the　revolver；　and　searched　till　I　discovered　a　good　sheath…knife。　　If　fighting　was　in　prospect　I　might　as　well　look　to　my　arms。

All　the　morning　I　sat　among　flour　and　sugar　possessing　my　soul　in　as　much　patience　as　I　could　command。　　Nothing　came　down　the　white　road　from　the　west。　　The　sun　melted　the　rime；　the　flies　came　out　and　buzzed　in　the　window；　Japp　got　himself　out　of　bed；　brewed　strong　coffee；　and　went　back　to　his　slumbers。　　Presently　it　was　dinner…time；　and　I　went　over　to　a　silent　meal　with　Wardlaw。　　When　I　returned　I　must　have　fallen　asleep　over　a　pipe；　for　the　next　thing　I　knew　I　was　blinking　drowsily　at　the　patch　of　sun　in　the　door；　and　listening　for　footsteps。　　In　the　dead　stillness　of　the　afternoon　I　thought　I　could　discern　a　shuffling　in　the　dust。　　I　got　up　and　looked　out；　and　there；　sure　enough；　was　some　one　coming　down　the　road。

But　it　was　only　a　Kaffir；　and　a　miserable…looking　object　at　that。　　I　had　never　seen　such　an　anatomy。　　It　was　a　very　old　man；　bent　almost　double；　and　clad　in　a　ragged　shirt　and　a　pair　of　foul　khaki　trousers。　　He　carried　an　iron　pot；　and　a　few　belongings　were　tied　up　in　a　dirty　handkerchief。　　He　must　have　been　a　dacha*　smoker；　for　he　coughed　hideously；　twisting　his　body　with　the　paroxysms。　　I　had　seen　the　type　before　…　the　old　broken…down　native　who　had　no　kin　to　support　him；　and　no　tribe　to　shelter　him。　　They　wander　about　the　roads；　cooking　their　wretched　meals　by　their　little　fires；　till　one　morning　they　are　found　stiff　under　a　bush。　　　　　　　　　　　*Hemp。

The　native　gave　me　a　good…day　in　Kaffir；　then　begged　for　tobacco　or　a　handful　of　mealie…meal。

I　asked　him　where　he　came　from。

'From　the　west；　Inkoos；'　he　said；　'and　before　that　from　the　south。　　It　is　a　sore　road　for　old　bones。'

I　went　into　the　store　to　fetch　some　meal；　and　when　I　came　out　he　had　shuffled　close　to　the　door。　　He　had　kept　his　eyes　on　the　ground；　but　now　he　looked　up　at　me；　and　I　thought　he　had　very　bright　eyes　for　such　an　old　wreck。

'The　nights　are　cold；　Inkoos；'　he　wailed；　'and　my　folk　are　scattered；　and　I　have　no　kraal。　　The　aasvogels　follow　me；　and　I　can　hear　the　blesbok。'　'What　about　the　blesbok？'　I　asked　with　a　start。

'The　blesbok　are　changing　ground；'　he　said；　and　looked　me　straight　in　the　face。

'And　where　are　the　hunters？'　I　asked。　'They　are　here　and　behind　me；'　he　said　in　English；　holding　out　his　pot　for　my　meal；　while　he　began　to　edge　into　the　middle　of　the　road。

I　followed；　and；　speaking　English；　asked　him　if　he　knew　of　a　man　named　Colles。

'I　come　from　him；　young　Baas。　　Where　is　your　house？　　Ah；　the　school。　　There　will　be　a　way　in　by　the　back　window？　　See　that　it　is　open；　for　I'll　be　there　shortly。'　　Then　lifting　up　his　voice　he　called　down　in　Sesuto　all　manner　of　blessings　on　me　for　my　kindness；　and　went　shuffling　down　the　sunlit　road；　coughing　like　a　volcano。

In　high　excitement　I　locked　up　the　store　and　went　over　to　Mr　Wardlaw。　　No　children　had　come　to　school　that　day；　and　he　was　sitting　idle；　playing　patience。　　'Lock　the　door；'　I　said；　'and　come　into　my　room。　　We're　on　the　brink　of　explanations。'

In　about　twenty　minutes　the　bush　below　the　back…window　parted　and　the　Kaffir　slipped　out。　　He　grinned　at　me；　and　after　a　glance　round；　hopped　very　nimbly　over　the　sill。　　Then　he　examined　the　window　and　pulled　the　curtains。

'Is　the　outer　door　shut？'　he　asked　in　excellent　English。　　'Well；　get　me　some　hot　water；　and　any　spare　clothes　you　may　possess；　Mr　Crawfurd。　　I　must　get　comfortable　before　we　begin　our　indaba。*　We've　the　night　before　us；　so　there's　plenty　of　time。　But　get　the　house　clear；　and　see　that　nobody　disturbs　me　at　my　toilet。　　I　am　a　modest　man；　and　sensitive　about　my　looks。'　　　　　　　　　　　*Council。

I　brought　him　what　he　wanted；　and　looked　on　at　an　amazing　transformation。　　Taking　a　phial　from　his　bundle；　he　rubbed　some　liquid　on　his　face　and　neck　and　hands；　and　got　rid　of　the　black　colouring。　　His　body　and　legs　he　left　untouched；　save　that　he　covered　them　with　shirt　and　trousers　from　my　wardrobe。　Then　he　pulled　off　a　scaly　wig；　and　showed　beneath　it　a　head　of　close…cropped　grizzled　hair。　　In　ten　minutes　the　old　Kaffir　had　been　transformed　into　an　active　soldierly…looking　man　of　maybe　fifty　years。　　Mr　Wardlaw　stared　as　if　he　had　seen　a　resurrection。

'I　had　better　introduce　myself；'　he　said；　when　he　had　taken　the　edge　off　his　thirst　and　hunger。　　'My　name　is　Arcoll；　Captain　James　Arcoll。　　I　am　speaking　to　Mr　Crawfurd；　the　storekeeper；　and　Mr　Wardlaw；　the　schoolmaster；　of　Blaauwildebeestefontein。　Where；　by　the　way；　is　Mr　Peter　Japp？　　Drunk？　　Ah；　yes；　it　was　always　his　failing。　　The　quorum；　however；　is　complete　without　him。'

By　this　time　it　was　about　sunset；　and　I　remember　I　cocked　my　ear　to　hear　the　drums　beat。　　Captain　Arcoll　noticed　the　movement　as　he　noticed　all　else。　'You're　listening　for　the　drums；　but　you　won't　hear　them。　That　business　is　over　here。　　To…night　they　beat　in　Swaziland　and　down　into　the　Tonga　border。　　Three　days　more；　unless　you　and　I；　Mr　Crawfurd；　are　extra　smart；　and　they'll　be　hearing　them　in　Durban。'

It　was　not　till　the　lamp　was　lit；　the　fire　burning　well；　and　the　house　locked　and　shuttered；　that　Captain　Arcoll　began　his　tale。

'First；'　he　said；　'let　me　hear　what　you　know。　　Colles　told　me　that　you　were　a　keen　fellow；　and　had　wind　of　some　mystery　here。　　You　wrote　him　about　the　way　you　were　spied　on；　but　I　told　him　to　take　no　notice。　　Your　affair；　Mr　Crawfurd；　had　to　wait　on　more　urgent　matters。　　Now；　what　do　you　think　is　happening？'　I　spoke　very　shortly；　weighing　my　words；　for　I　felt　I　was　on　trial　before　these　bright　eyes。　　'I　think　that　some　kind　of　native　rising　is　about　to　commence。'

'Ay；'　he　said　dryly；　'you　would；　and　your　evidence　would　be　the　spying　and　drumming。　　Anything　more？'

'I　have　come　on　the　tracks　of　a　lot　of　I。D。B。　work　in　the　neighbourhood。　　The　natives　have　some　supply　of　diamonds；　which　they　sell　bit　by　bit；　and　I　don't　doubt　but　they　have　been　getting　guns　with　the　proceeds。'

He　nodded；　'Have　you　any　notion　who　has　been　engaged　in　the　job？'

I　had　it　on　my　tongue　to　mention　Japp；　but　forbore；　remembering　my　promise。　　'I　can　name　one；'　I　said；　'a　little　yellow　Portugoose；　who　calls　himself　Henriques　or　Hendricks。　He　passed　by　here　the　day　before　yesterday。'

Captain　Arcoll　suddenly　was　consumed　with　quiet　laughter。　'Did　you　notice　the　Kaffir　who　rode　with　him　and　carried　his　saddlebags？　　Well；　he's　one　of　my　men。　　Henriques　would　have　a　fit　if　he　knew　what　was　in　those　saddlebags。　　They　contain　my　change　of　clothes；　and　other　odds　and　ends。　　Henriques'　own　stuff　is　in　a　hole　in　the　spruit。　　A　handy　way　of　getting　one's　luggage　sent　on；　eh？　　The　bags　are　waiting　for　me　at　a　place　I　appointed。'　　And　again　Captain　Arcoll　indulged　his　sense　of　humour。　　Then　he　became　grave；　and　returned　to　his　examination。　'A　rising；　with　diamonds　as　the　sinews　of　war；　and　Henriques　as　the　chief　agent。　　Well　and　good！　　But　who　is　to　lead；　and　what　are　the　natives　going　to　rise　about？'

'I　know　nothing　further；　but　I　have　made　some　guesses。'

'Let's　hear　your　guesses；'　he　said；　blowing　smoke　rings　from　his　pipe。　'I　think　the　main　mover　is　a　great　black　minister　who　calls　himself　John　Laputa。'

Captain　Arcoll　nearly　sprang　out　of　his　chair。　　'Now；　how　on　earth　did　you　find　that　out？　　Quick；　Mr　Crawfurd；　tell　me　all　you　know；　for　this　is　desperately　important。'

I　began　at　the　beginning；　and　told　him　the　story　of　what　happened　on　the　Kirkcaple　shore。　　Then　I　spoke　of　my　sight　of　him　on　board　ship；　his　talk　with　Henriques　about　Blaauwildebeestefontein；　and　his　hurried　departure　from　Durban。

Captain　Arcoll　listened　intently；　and　at　the　mention　of　Durban　he　laughed。　　'You　and　I　seem　to