prester john-第33章
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a hand on Colin's back； for my legs were numb with fatigue。 By…and…by the gully narrowed； and I came to a flat place with a long pool。 Beyond was a little fall； and up this I climbed into a network of tiny cascades。 Over one pool hung a dead tree…fern； and a bay from it ran into a hole of the rock。 I slipped the jewels far into the hole； where they lay on the firm sand； showing odd lights through the dim blue water。 Then I scrambled down again to the flat space and the pool； and looked round to see if any one had reached the edge of the ravine。 There was no sign as yet of the pursuit； so I dropped limply on the shingle and waited。 For I had suddenly conceived a plan。
As my breath came back to me my wits came back from their wandering。 These men were not there to kill me； but to capture me。 They could know nothing of the jewels； for Laputa would never have dared to make the loss of the sacred Snake public。 Therefore they would not suspect what I had done； and would simply lead me to Laputa at Inanda's Kraal。 I began to see the glimmerings of a plan for saving my life； and by God's grace； for saving my country from the horrors of rebellion。 The more I thought the better I liked it。 It demanded a bold front； and it might well miscarry； but I had taken such desperate hazards during the past days that I was less afraid of fortune。 Anyhow； the choice lay between certain death and a slender chance of life； and it was easy to decide。
Playing football； I used to notice how towards the end of a game I might be sore and weary； without a kick in my body； but when I had a straight job of tackling a man my strength miraculously returned。 It was even so now。 I lay on my side； luxuriating in being still； and slowly a sort of vigour crept back into my limbs。 Perhaps a half…hour of rest was given me before； on the lip of the gully； I saw figures appear。 Looking down I saw several men who had come across from the opposite side of the valley； scrambling up the stream。 I got to my feet； with Colin bristling beside me； and awaited them with the stiffest face I could muster。
As I expected； they were Machudi's men。 I recognized them by the red ochre in their hair and their copper…wire necklets。 Big fellows they were； long…legged and deep in the chest； the true breed of mountaineers。 I admired their light tread on the slippery rock。 It was hopeless to think of evading such men in their own hills。
The men from the side joined the men in front； and they stood looking at me from about twelve yards off。 They were armed only with knobkerries； and very clearly were no part of Laputa's army。 This made their errand plain to me。
'Halt！' I said in Kaffir； as one of them made a hesitating step to advance。 'Who are you and what do you seek？'
There was no answer； but they looked at me curiously。 Then one made a motion with his stick。 Colin gave a growl； and would have been on him if I had not kept a hand on his collar。 The rash man drew back； and all stood stiff and perplexed。
'Keep your hands by your side；' I said； 'or the dog； who has a devil； will devour you。 One of you speak for the rest and tell me your purpose。'
For a moment I had a wild notion that they might be friends； some of Arcoll's scouts； and out to help me。 But the first words shattered the fancy。
'We are sent by Inkulu；' the biggest of them said。 'He bade us bring you to him。'
'And what if I refuse to go？'
'Then； Baas； we must take you to him。 We are under the vow of the Snake。'
'Vow of fiddlestick！' I cried。 'Who do you think is the bigger chief； the Inkulu or Ratitswan？ I tell you Ratitswan is now driving Inkulu before him as a wind drives rotten leaves。 It will be well for you； men of Machudi； to make peace with Ratitswan and take me to him on the Berg。 If you bring me to him； I and he will reward you； but if you do Inkulu's bidding you will soon be hunted like buck out of your hills。'
They grinned at one another； but I could see that my words had no effect。 Laputa had done his business too well。
The spokesman shrugged his shoulders in the way the Kaffirs have。 'We wish you no ill； Baas； but we have been bidden to take you to Inkulu。 We cannot disobey the command of the Snake。'
My weakness was coming on me again； and I could talk no more。 I sat down plump on the ground； almost falling into the pool。 'Take me to Inkulu；' I stammered with a dry throat； 'I do not fear him；' and I rolled half…fainting on my back。
These clansmen of Machudi were decent fellows。 One of them had some Kaffir beer in a calabash； which he gave me to drink。 The stuff was thin and sickly； but the fermentation in it did me good。 I had the sense to remember my need of sleep。 'The day is young；' I said； 'and I have come far。 I ask to be allowed to sleep for an hour。'
The men made no difficulty； and with my head between Colin's paws I slipped into dreamless slumber。
When they wakened me the sun was beginning to climb the sky； I judged it to be about eight o'clock。 They had made a little fire and roasted mealies。 Some of the food they gave me； and I ate it thankfully。 I was feeling better； and I think a pipe would have almost completed my cure。
But when I stood up I found that I was worse than I had thought。 The truth is； I was leg…weary； which you often see in horses； but rarely in men。 What the proper explanation is I do not know； but the muscles simply refuse to answer the direction of the will。 I found my legs sprawling like a child's who is learning to walk。
'If you want me to go to the Inkulu； you must carry me；' I said； as I dropped once more on the ground。
The men nodded； and set to work to make a kind of litter out of their knobkerries and some old ropes they carried。 As they worked and chattered I looked idly at the left bank of the ravine … that is； the left as you ascend it。 Some of Machudi's men had come down there； and； though the place looked sheer and perilous； I saw how they had managed it。 I followed out bit by bit the track upwards； not with any thought of escape； but merely to keep my mind under control。 The right road was from the foot of the pool up a long shelf to a clump of juniper。 Then there was an easy chimney； then a piece of good hand…and…foot climbing； and last； another ledge which led by an easy gradient to the top。 I figured all this out as I have heard a condemned man will count the windows of the houses on his way to the scaffold。
Presently the litter was ready； and the men made signs to me to get into it。 They carried me down the ravine and up the Machudi burn to the green walls at its head。 I admired their bodily fitness； for they bore me up those steep slopes with never a halt； zigzagging in the proper style of mountain transport。 In less than an hour we had topped the ridge； and the plateau was before me。
It looked very homelike and gracious； rolling in gentle undulations to the western horizon； with clumps of wood in its hollows。 Far away I saw smoke rising from what should be the village of the Iron Kranz。 It was the country of my own people； and my captors behoved to go cautiously。 They were old hands at veld…craft； and it was wonderful the way in which they kept out of sight even on the bare ridges。 Arcoll could have taught them nothing in the art of scouting。 At an incredible pace they hurried me along； now in a meadow by a stream side； now through a patch of forest； and now skirting a green shoulder of hill。
Once they clapped down suddenly； and crawled into the lee of some thick bracken。 Then very quietly they tied my hands and feet； and； not urgently； wound a dirty length of cotton over my mouth。 Colin was meantime held tight and muzzled with a kind of bag strapped over his head。 To get this over his snapping jaws took the whole strength of the party。 I guessed that we were nearing the highroad which runs from the plateau down the Great Letaba valley to the mining township of Wesselsburg； away out on the plain。 The police patrols must be on this road； and there was risk in crossing。 Sure enough I seemed to catch a jingle of bridles as if from some company of men riding in haste。
We lay still for a little till the scouts came back and reported the coast cl
