prester john-第34章

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en　riding　in　haste。

We　lay　still　for　a　little　till　the　scouts　came　back　and　reported　the　coast　clear。　　Then　we　made　a　dart　for　the　road；　crossed　it；　and　got　into　cover　on　the　other　side；　where　the　ground　sloped　down　to　the　Letaba　glen。　　I　noticed　in　crossing　that　the　dust　of　the　highway　was　thick　with　the　marks　of　shod　horses。　　I　was　very　near　and　yet　very　far　from　my　own　people。

Once　in　the　rocky　gorge　of　the　Letaba　we　advanced　with　less　care。　　We　scrambled　up　a　steep　side　gorge　and　came　on　to　the　small　plateau　from　which　the　Cloud　Mountains　rise。　　After　that　I　was　so　tired　that　I　drowsed　away；　heedless　of　the　bumping　of　the　litter。　　We　went　up　and　up；　and　when　I　next　opened　my　eyes　we　had　gone　through　a　pass　into　a　hollow　of　the　hills。　There　was　a　flat　space　a　mile　or　two　square；　and　all　round　it　stern　black　ramparts　of　rock。　　This　must　be　Inanda's　Kraal；　a　strong　place　if　ever　one　existed；　for　a　few　men　could　defend　all　the　approaches。　　Considering　that　I　had　warned　Arcoll　of　this　rendezvous；　I　marvelled　that　no　attempt　had　been　made　to　hold　the　entrance。　　The　place　was　impregnable　unless　guns　were　brought　up　to　the　heights。　　I　remember　thinking　of　a　story　I　had　heard　…　how　in　the　war　Beyers　took　his　guns　into　the　Wolkberg；　and　thereby　saved　them　from　our　troops。　　Could　Arcoll　be　meditating　the　same　exploit？

Suddenly　I　heard　the　sound　of　loud　voices；　and　my　litter　was　dropped　roughly　on　the　ground。　　I　woke　to　clear　consciousness　in　the　midst　of　pandemonium。



CHAPTER　XVI　INANDA'S　KRAAL


The　vow　was　at　an　end。　　In　place　of　the　silent　army　of　yesterday　a　mob　of　maddened　savages　surged　around　me。　　They　were　chanting　a　wild　song；　and　brandishing　spears　and　rifles　to　its　accompaniment。　　From　their　bloodshot　eyes　stared　the　lust　of　blood；　the　fury　of　conquest；　and　all　the　aboriginal　passions　on　which　Laputa　had　laid　his　spell。　　In　my　mind　ran　a　fragment　from　Laputa's　prayer　in　the　cave　about　the　'Terrible　Ones。'　Machudi's　men　…　stout　fellows；　they　held　their　ground　as　long　as　they　could　…　were　swept　out　of　the　way；　and　the　wave　of　black　savagery　seemed　to　close　over　my　head。

I　thought　my　last　moment　had　come。　　Certainly　it　had　but　for　Colin。　　The　bag　had　been　taken　from　his　head；　and　the　fellow　of　Machudi's　had　dropped　the　rope　round　his　collar。　　In　a　red　fury　of　wrath　the　dog　leaped　at　my　enemies。　　Though　every　man　of　them　was　fully　armed；　they　fell　back；　for　I　have　noticed　always　that　Kaffirs　are　mortally　afraid　of　a　white　man's　dog。　　Colin　had　the　sense　to　keep　beside　me。　　Growling　like　a　thunderstorm　he　held　the　ring　around　my　litter。

The　breathing　space　would　not　have　lasted　long；　but　it　gave　me　time　to　get　to　my　feet。　　My　wrists　and　feet　had　been　unbound　long　before；　and　the　rest　had　cured　my　leg…weariness。　I　stood　up　in　that　fierce　circle　with　the　clear　knowledge　that　my　life　hung　by　a　hair。

'Take　me　to　Inkulu；'　I　cried。　　'Dogs　and　fools；　would　you　despise　his　orders？　　If　one　hair　of　my　head　is　hurt；　he　will　flay　you　alive。　　Show　me　the　way　to　him；　and　clear　out　of　it。'

I　dare　say　there　was　a　break　in　my　voice；　for　I　was　dismally　frightened；　but　there　must　have　been　sufficient　authority　to　get　me　a　hearing。　　Machudi's　men　closed　up　behind　me；　and　repeated　my　words　with　flourishes　and　gestures。　　But　still　the　circle　held。　　No　man　came　nearer　me；　but　none　moved　so　as　to　give　me　passage。

Then　I　screwed　up　my　courage；　and　did　the　only　thing　possible。　　I　walked　straight　into　the　circle；　knowing　well　that　I　was　running　no　light　risk。　　My　courage；　as　I　have　already　explained；　is　of　little　use　unless　I　am　doing　something。　　I　could　not　endure　another　minute　of　sitting　still　with　those　fierce　eyes　on　me。

The　circle　gave　way。　　Sullenly　they　made　a　road　for　me；　closing　up　behind　on　my　guards；　so　that　Machudi's　men　were　swallowed　in　the　mob；　Alone　I　stalked　forward　with　all　that　huge　yelling　crowd　behind　me。

I　had　not　far　to　go。　　Inanda's　Kraal　was　a　cluster　of　kyas　and　rondavels；　shaped　in　a　half…moon；　with　a　flat　space　between　the　houses；　where　grew　a　big　merula　tree。　　All　around　was　a　medley　of　little　fires；　with　men　squatted　beside　them。　Here　and　there　a　party　had　finished　their　meal；　and　were　swaggering　about　with　a　great　shouting。　　The　mob　into　which　I　had　fallen　was　of　this　sort；　and　I　saw　others　within　the　confines　of　the　camp。　　But　around　the　merula　tree　there　was　a　gathering　of　chiefs；　if　I　could　judge　by　the　comparative　quiet　and　dignity　of　the　men；　who　sat　in　rows　on　the　ground。　　A　few　were　standing；　and　among　them　I　caught　sight　of　Laputa's　tall　figure。　　I　strode　towards　it；　wondering　if　the　chiefs　would　let　me　pass。

The　hubbub　of　my　volunteer　attendants　brought　the　eyes　of　the　company　round　to　me。　　In　a　second　it　seemed　every　man　was　on　his　feet。　　I　could　only　pray　that　Laputa　would　get　to　me　before　his　friends　had　time　to　spear　me。　　I　remember　I　fixed　my　eyes　on　a　spur　of　hill　beyond　the　kraal；　and　walked　on　with　the　best　resolution　I　could　find。　　Already　I　felt　in　my　breast　some　of　the　long　thin　assegais　of　Umbooni's　men。

But　Laputa　did　not　intend　that　I　should　be　butchered。　　A　word　from　him　brought　his　company　into　order；　and　the　next　thing　I　knew　I　was　facing　him；　where　he　stood　in　front　of　the　biggest　kya；　with　Henriques　beside　him；　and　some　of　the　northern　indunas。　　Henriques　looked　ghastly　in　the　clear　morning　light；　and　he　had　a　linen　rag　bound　round　his　head　and　jaw；　as　if　he　suffered　from　toothache。　　His　face　was　more　livid；　his　eyes　more　bloodshot；　and　at　the　sight　of　me　his　hand　went　to　his　belt；　and　his　teeth　snapped。　　But　he　held　his　peace；　and　it　was　Laputa　who　spoke。　　He　looked　straight　through　me；　and　addressed　Machudi's　men。

'You　have　brought　back　the　prisoner。　　That　is　well；　and　your　service　will　be　remembered。　　Go　to　'Mpefu's　camp　on　the　hill　there；　and　you　will　be　given　food。'

The　men　departed；　and　with　them　fell　away　the　crowd　which　had　followed　me。　　I　was　left；　very　giddy　and　dazed；　to　confront　Laputa　and　his　chiefs。　　The　whole　scene　was　swimming　before　my　eyes。　　I　remember　there　was　a　clucking　of　hens　from　somewhere　behind　the　kraal；　which　called　up　ridiculous　memories。　　I　was　trying　to　remember　the　plan　I　had　made　in　Machudi's　glen。　　I　kept　saying　to　myself　like　a　parrot：　'The　army　cannot　know　about　the　jewels。　　Laputa　must　keep　his　loss　secret。　　I　can　get　my　life　from　him　if　I　offer　to　give　them　back。'　It　had　sounded　a　good　scheme　three　hours　before；　but　with　the　man's　hard　face　before　me；　it　seemed　a　frail　peg　to　hang　my　fate　on。

Laputa's　eye　fell　on　me；　a　clear　searching　eye　with　a　question　in　it。

There　was　something　he　was　trying　to　say　to　me　which　he　dared　not　put　into　words。　　I　guessed　what　the　something　was；　for　I　saw　his　glance　run　over　my　shirt　and　my　empty　pockets。

'You　have　made　little　of　your　treachery；'　he　said。　　'Fool；　did　you　think　to　escape　me？　　I　could　bring　you　back　from　the　ends　of　the　earth。'

'There　was　no　treachery；'　I　replied。　　'Do　you　blame　a　prisoner　for　trying　to　escape？　　When　shooting　began　I　found　myself　free；　and　I　took　the　road　for　home。　　Ask　Machudi's　men　and　they　will　tell　you　that　I　came　quietly　with　them；　when　I　saw　that　the　game　was　up。'

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　'It　matters　very　little　what　you　did。　　You　are　here　now。　　…　Tie　him　up　and　put　him　in　my　kya；'　he　said　to　the　bodyguard。　　'I　have　something　to　say　to　him　before　he　dies。'

As　the　men　laid　hands　on　me；　I　saw　the　exultant　grin　on　Henriques'　face。　　It　was　more　than　I　could　endure。

'Stop；'　I　said。　　'You　talk　of　traitors；　Mr　Laputa。　　There　is　the　biggest　and　blackest　at　your　elbow。　　That　man　sent　word　to　Arcoll　about　your　crossing　at　Dupree's　Drift。　　At　our　outspan　at　noon　yesterday　he　came　to　me　and　offered　me　my　liberty　if　I　would　help　him。　　He　told　me　he　was　a　spy；　and　I　flung　his　offer　in　his　face。　　It　was　he　who　shot　the　Keeper　by　the　river　side；　and　would　have　stolen　the　Snake　if　I　had　not　broken　his　head。　　You　call　me　a　traitor；　and　you　let　that　thing　live；　though　he　has　killed　your　priest　and　betrayed　your　plans。　　Kill　me　if　you　like；　but　by　God　let　him　die　first。'

I　do　not　know　how　the　others　took　the　revelation；　for　my　eyes　were　only　for　the　Portugoose。　　He　made　a　step　towards　me；　his　hands　twitching　by　his　sides。

'You　lie；'　he　sc