prester john-第23章

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of　it。　　The　password　might　be　wrong；　or　I　might　never　get　the　length　of　those　who　knew　it。　The　men　in　the　cave　might　butcher　me　out　of　hand；　or　Laputa　might　think　my　behaviour　a　sufficient　warrant　for　the　breach　of　the　solemnest　vow。　　Colin　might　never　get　to　Blaauwildebeestefontein；　Laputa　might　change　his　route　of　march；　or　Arcoll's　men　might　fail　to　hold　the　Drift。　　Indeed；　the　other　day　at　Portincross　I　was　so　overcome　by　the　recollection　of　the　perils　I　had　dared　and　God's　goodness　towards　me　that　I　built　a　new　hall　for　the　parish　kirk　as　a　token　of　gratitude。

Fortunately　for　mankind　the　brain　in　a　life　of　action　turns　more　to　the　matter　in　hand　than　to　conjuring　up　the　chances　of　the　future。　　Certainly　it　was　in　no　discomfort　of　mind　that　I　swung　along　the　moonlit　path　to　the　north。　　Truth　to　tell；　I　was　almost　happy。　　The　first　honours　in　the　game　had　fallen　to　me。　I　knew　more　about　Laputa　than　any　man　living　save　Henriques；　I　had　my　finger　on　the　central　pulse　of　the　rebellion。　There　was　hid　treasure　ahead　of　me　…　a　great　necklace　of　rubies；　Henriques　had　said。　　Nay；　there　must　be　more；　I　argued。　　This　cave　of　the　Rooirand　was　the　headquarters　of　the　rising；　and　there　must　be　stored　their　funds　…　diamonds；　and　the　gold　they　had　been　bartered　for。　　I　believe　that　every　man　has　deep　in　his　soul　a　passion　for　treasure…hunting；　which　will　often　drive　a　coward　into　prodigies　of　valour。　　I　lusted　for　that　treasure　of　jewels　and　gold。　　Once　I　had　been　high…minded；　and　thought　of　my　duty　to　my　country；　but　in　that　night　ride　I　fear　that　what　I　thought　of　was　my　duty　to　enrich　David　Crawfurd。　　One　other　purpose　simmered　in　my　head。　　I　was　devoured　with　wrath　against　Henriques。　　Indeed；　I　think　that　was　the　strongest　motive　for　my　escapade；　for　even　before　I　heard　Laputa　tell　of　the　vows　and　the　purification；　I　had　it　in　my　mind　to　go　at　all　costs　to　the　cave。　　I　am　a　peaceable　man　at　most　times；　but　I　think　I　would　rather　have　had　the　Portugoose's　throat　in　my　hands　than　the　collar　of　Prester　John。

But　behind　my　thoughts　was　one　master…feeling；　that　Providence　had　given　me　my　chance　and　I　must　make　the　most　of　it。　Perhaps　the　Calvinism　of　my　father's　preaching　had　unconsciously　taken　grip　of　my　soul。　　At　any　rate　I　was　a　fatalist　in　creed；　believing　that　what　was　willed　would　happen；　and　that　man　was　but　a　puppet　in　the　hands　of　his　Maker。　　I　looked　on　the　last　months　as　a　clear　course　which　had　been　mapped　out　for　me。　　Not　for　nothing　had　I　been　given　a　clue　to　the　strange　events　which　were　coming。　　It　was　foreordained　that　I　should　go　alone　to　Umvelos'；　and　in　the　promptings　of　my　own　fallible　heart　I　believed　I　saw　the　workings　of　Omnipotence。　　Such　is　our　moral　arrogance；　and　yet　without　such　a　belief　I　think　that　mankind　would　have　ever　been　content　to　bide　sluggishly　at　home。

I　passed　the　spot　where　on　my　former　journey　I　had　met　the　horses；　and　knew　that　I　had　covered　more　than　half　the　road。　My　ear　had　been　alert　for　the　sound　of　pursuit；　but　the　bush　was　quiet　as　the　grave。　　The　man　who　rode　my　pony　would　find　him　a　slow　traveller；　and　I　pitied　the　poor　beast　bucketed　along　by　an　angry　rider。　　Gradually　a　hazy　wall　of　purple　began　to　shimmer　before　me；　apparently　very　far　off。　　I　knew　the　ramparts　of　the　Rooirand；　and　let　my　Schimmel　feel　my　knees　in　his　ribs。　　Within　an　hour　I　should　be　at　the　cliff's　foot。

I　had　trusted　for　safety　to　the　password；　but　as　it　turned　out　I　owed　my　life　mainly　to　my　horse。　　For；　a　mile　or　so　from　the　cliffs；　I　came　to　the　fringes　of　a　great　army。　　The　bush　was　teeming　with　men；　and　I　saw　horses　picketed　in　bunches；　and　a　multitude　of　Cape…carts　and　light　wagons。　　It　was　like　a　colossal　gathering　for　naachtmaal*1　at　a　Dutch　dorp；　but　every　man　was　black。　　I　saw　through　a　corner　of　my　eye　that　they　were　armed　with　guns；　though　many　carried　in　addition　their　spears　and　shields。　　Their　first　impulse　was　to　stop　me。　　I　saw　guns　fly　to　shoulders；　and　a　rush　towards　the　path。　　The　boldest　game　was　the　safest；　so　I　dug　my　heels　into　the　schimmel　and　shouted　for　a　passage。　　'Make　way！'　I　cried　in　Kaffir。　　'I　bear　a　message　from　the　Inkulu。*2　　Clear　out；　you　dogs！'　　　　　　　　　　　*1　The　Communion　Sabbath。　　　　　　　　　　　*2　A　title　applied　only　to　the　greatest　chiefs。

They　recognized　the　horse；　and　fell　back　with　a　salute。　　Had　I　but　known　it；　the　beast　was　famed　from　the　Zambesi　to　the　Cape。　　It　was　their　king's　own　charger　I　rode；　and　who　dared　question　such　a　warrant？　　I　heard　the　word　pass　through　the　bush；　and　all　down　the　road　I　got　the　salute。　　In　that　moment　I　fervently　thanked　my　stars　that　I　had　got　away　first；　for　there　would　have　been　no　coming　second　for　me。

At　the　cliff…foot　I　found　a　double　line　of　warriors　who　had　the　appearance　of　a　royal　guard；　for　all　were　tall　men　with　leopard…skin　cloaks。　　Their　rifle…barrels　glinted　in　the　moon…　light；　and　the　sight　sent　a　cold　shiver　down　my　back。　　Above　them；　among　the　scrub　and　along　the　lower　slopes　of　the　kranzes；　I　could　see　further　lines　with　the　same　gleaming　weapons。　　The　Place　of　the　Snake　was　in　strong　hands　that　night。

I　dismounted　and　called　for　a　man　to　take　my　horse。　　Two　of　the　guards　stepped　forward　in　silence　and　took　the　bridle。　　This　left　the　track　to　the　cave　open；　and　with　as　stiff　a　back　as　I　could　command；　but　a　sadly　fluttering　heart；　I　marched　through　the　ranks。

The　path　was　lined　with　guards；　all　silent　and　rigid　as　graven　images。　　As　I　stumbled　over　the　stones　I　felt　that　my　appearance　scarcely　fitted　the　dignity　of　a　royal　messenger。　　Among　those　splendid　men…at…arms　I　shambled　along　in　old　breeches　and　leggings；　hatless；　with　a　dirty　face；　dishevelled　hair；　and　a　torn　flannel　shirt。　　My　mind　was　no　better　than　my　body；　for　now　that　I　had　arrived　I　found　my　courage　gone。　　Had　it　been　possible　I　would　have　turned　tail　and　fled；　but　the　boats　were　burned　behind　me；　and　I　had　no　choice。　　I　cursed　my　rash　folly；　and　wondered　at　my　exhilaration　of　an　hour　ago。　　I　was　going　into　the　black　mysterious　darkness；　peopled　by　ten　thousand　cruel　foes。　　My　knees　rubbed　against　each　other；　and　I　thought　that　no　man　had　ever　been　in　more　deadly　danger。

At　the　entrance　to　the　gorge　the　guards　ceased　and　I　went　on　alone。　　Here　there　was　no　moonlight；　and　I　had　to　feel　my　way　by　the　sides。　　I　moved　very　slowly；　wondering　how　soon　I　should　find　the　end　my　folly　demanded。　　The　heat　of　the　ride　had　gone；　and　I　remember　feeling　my　shirt　hang　clammily　on　my　shoulders。

Suddenly　a　hand　was　laid　on　my　breast；　and　a　voice　demanded；　'The　word？'

'Immanuel；'　I　said　hoarsely。

Then　unseen　hands　took　both　my　arms；　and　I　was　led　farther　into　the　darkness。　　My　hopes　revived　for　a　second。　　The

password　had　proved　true；　and　at　any　rate　I　should　enter　the　cave。

In　the　darkness　I　could　see　nothing；　but　I　judged　that　we　stopped　before　the　stone　slab　which；　as　I　remembered；　filled　the　extreme　end　of　the　gorge。　　My　guide　did　something　with　the　right…hand　wall；　and　I　felt　myself　being　drawn　into　a　kind　of　passage。　　It　was　so　narrow　that　two　could　not　go　abreast；　and　so　low　that　the　creepers　above　scraped　my　hair。　　Something　clicked　behind　me　like　the　turnstile　at　the　gate　of　a　show。

Then　we　began　to　ascend　steps；　still　in　utter　darkness；　and　a　great　booming　fell　on　my　ear。　　It　was　the　falling　river　which　had　scared　me　on　my　former　visit；　and　I　marvelled　that　I　had　not　heard　it　sooner。　　Presently　we　came　out　into　a　gleam　of　moonlight；　and　I　saw　that　we　were　inside　the　gorge　and　far　above　the　slab。　　We　followed　a　narrow　shelf　on　its　left　side　（or　'true　right'；　as　mountaineers　would　call　it）　until　we　could　go　no　farther。　　Then　we　did　a　terrible　thing。　　Across　the　gorge；　which　here　was　at　its　narrowest；　stretched　a　slab　of　stone。　　Far；　far　below　I　caught　the　moonlight　on　a　mass　of　hurrying　waters。　This　was　our　bridge；　and　though　I　have　a　good　head　for　crags；　I　confess　I　grew　dizzy　as　we　turned　to　cross　it。　　Perhaps　it　was　broader　than　it　looked；　at　any　rate　my　guides　seemed　to　have　no　fear；　and　strode　across　it　as　if　it　was　a　highway；　while　I　followed　in　a　sweat　of　fright。　　Once　on　the　other　side；　I　was　handed　over　to　a　second　pair　of　guides；　who　led　me　down　a　high　passage　running　into　the　heart　of　the　mountain。

The　boom　of　the　rive