prester john-第39章

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he　dying　sun；　which　I　saw　in　a　nick　of　the　Iron　Crown　Mountain。　　A　sort　of　childish　happiness　possessed　me。　　After　three　days　of　imminent　peril；　to　be　free　was　to　be　in　fairyland。　To　be　swishing　through　the　long　bracken　or　plunging　among　the　breast…high　flowers　of　the　meadowlands　in　a　world　of　essential　lights　and　fragrances；　seemed　scarcely　part　of　mortal　experience。　　Remember　that　I　was　little　more　than　a　lad；　and　that　I　had　faced　death　so　often　of　late　that　my　mind　was　all　adrift。　　To　be　able　to　hope　once　more；　nay；　to　be　allowed　to　cease　both　from　hope　and　fear；　was　like　a　deep　and　happy　opiate　to　my　senses。　　Spent　and　frail　as　I　was；　my　soul　swam　in　blessed　waters　of　ease。

The　mood　did　not　last　long。　　I　came　back　to　earth　with　a　shock；　as　the　schimmel　stumbled　at　the　crossing　of　a　stream。　　I　saw　that　the　darkness　was　fast　falling；　and　with　the　sight　panic　returned　to　me。　　Behind　me　I　seemed　to　hear　the　sound　of　pursuit。　　The　noise　was　in　my　ears；　but　when　I　turned　it　ceased；　and　I　saw　only　the　dusky　shoulders　of　hills。

I　tried　to　remember　what　Arcoll　had　told　me　about　his　headquarters；　but　my　memory　was　wiped　clean。　　I　thought　they　were　on　or　near　the　highway；　but　I　could　not　remember　where　the　highway　was。　　Besides；　he　was　close　to　the　enemy；　and　I　wanted　to　get　back　into　the　towns；　far　away　from　the　battle…　line。　　If　I　rode　west　I　must　come　in　time　to　villages；　where　I　could　hide　myself。　　These　were　unworthy　thoughts；　but　my　excuse　must　be　my　tattered　nerves。　　When　a　man　comes　out　of　great　danger；　he　is　apt　to　be　a　little　deaf　to　the　call　of　duty。

Suddenly　I　became　ashamed。　　God　had　preserved　me　from　deadly　perils；　but　not　that　I　might　cower　in　some　shelter。　　I　had　a　mission　as　clear　as　Laputa's。　　For　the　first　time　I　became　conscious　to　what　a　little　thing　I　owed　my　salvation。　　That　matter　of　the　broken　halter　was　like　the　finger　of　Divine　Providence。　　I　had　been　saved　for　a　purpose；　and　unless　I　fulfilled　that　purpose　I　should　again　be　lost。　　I　was　always　a　fatalist；　and　in　that　hour　of　strained　body　and　soul　I　became　something　of　a　mystic。　　My　panic　ceased；　my　lethargy　departed；　and　a　more　manly　resolution　took　their　place。　　I　gripped　the　Schimmel　by　the　head　and　turned　him　due　left。　　Now　I　remembered　where　the　highroad　ran；　and　I　remembered　something　else。

For　it　was　borne　in　on　me　that　Laputa　had　fallen　into　my　hands。　　Without　any　subtle　purpose　I　had　played　a　master　game。　　He　was　cut　off　from　his　people；　without　a　horse；　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　highroad　which　Arcoll's　men　patrolled。　Without　him　the　rising　would　crumble。　　There　might　be　war；　even　desperate　war；　but　we　should　fight　against　a　leaderless　foe。　　If　he　could　only　be　shepherded　to　the　north；　his　game　was　over；　and　at　our　leisure　we　could　mop　up　the　scattered　concentrations。

I　was　now　as　eager　to　get　back　into　danger　as　I　had　been　to　get　into　safety。　　Arcoll　must　be　found　and　warned；　and　that　at　once；　or　Laputa　would　slip　over　to　Inanda's　Kraal　under　cover　of　dark。　　It　was　a　matter　of　minutes；　and　on　these　minutes　depended　the　lives　of　thousands。　　It　was　also　a　matter　of　ebbing　strength；　for　with　my　return　to　common　sense　I　saw　very　clearly　how　near　my　capital　was　spent。　　If　I　could　reach　the　highroad；　find　Arcoll　or　Arcoll's　men；　and　give　them　my　news；　I　would　do　my　countrymen　a　service　such　as　no　man　in　Africa　could　render。　　But　I　felt　my　head　swimming；　I　was　swaying　crazily　in　the　saddle；　and　my　hands　had　scarcely　the　force　of　a　child's。　　I　could　only　lie　limply　on　the　horse's　back；　clutching　at　his　mane　with　trembling　fingers。　　I　remember　that　my　head　was　full　of　a　text　from　the　Psalms　about　not　putting　one's　trust　in　horses。　　I　prayed　that　this　one　horse　might　be　an　exception；　for　he　carried　more　than　Caesar　and　his　fortunes。

My　mind　is　a　blank　about　those　last　minutes。　　In　less　than　an　hour　after　my　escape　I　struck　the　highway；　but　it　was　an　hour　which　in　the　retrospect　unrolls　itself　into　unquiet　years。　　I　was　dimly　conscious　of　scrambling　through　a　ditch　and　coming　to　a　ghostly　white　road。　　The　schimmel　swung　to　the　right；　and　the　next　I　knew　some　one　had　taken　my　bridle　and　was　speaking　to　me。

At　first　I　thought　it　was　Laputa　and　screamed。　　Then　I　must　have　tottered　in　the　saddle；　for　I　felt　an　arm　slip　round　my　middle。　　The　rider　uncorked　a　bottle　with　his　teeth　and　forced　some　brandy　down　my　throat。　　I　choked　and　coughed；　and　then　looked　up　to　see　a　white　policeman　staring　at　me。　　I　knew　the　police　by　the　green　shoulder…straps。

'Arcoll；'　I　managed　to　croak。　　'For　God's　sake　take　me　to　Arcoll。'

The　man　whistled　shrilly　on　his　fingers；　and　a　second　rider　came　cantering　down　the　road。　　As　he　came　up　I　recognized　his　face；　but　could　not　put　a　name　to　it。　'Losh；　it's　the　lad　Crawfurd；'　I　heard　a　voice　say。　　'Crawfurd；　man；　d'ye　no　mind　me　at　Lourenco　Marques？　　Aitken？'

The　Scotch　tongue　worked　a　spell　with　me。　　It　cleared　my　wits　and　opened　the　gates　of　my　past　life。　　At　last　I　knew　I　was　among　my　own　folk。

'I　must　see　Arcoll。　　I　have　news　for　him　…　tremendous　news。　O　man；　take　me　to　Arcoll　and　ask　me　no　questions。　　Where　is　he？　　Where　is　he？'

'As　it　happens；　he's　about　two　hundred　yards　off；'　Aitken　said。　　'That　light　ye　see　at　the　top　of　the　brae　is　his　camp。'

They　helped　me　up　the　road；　a　man　on　each　side　of　me；　for　I　could　never　have　kept　in　the　saddle　without　their　support。　My　message　to　Arcoll　kept　humming　in　my　head　as　I　tried　to　put　it　into　words；　for　I　had　a　horrid　fear　that　my　wits　would　fail　me　and　I　should　be　dumb　when　the　time　came。　　Also　I　was　in　a　fever　of　haste。　　Every　minute　I　wasted　increased　Laputa's　chance　of　getting　back　to　the　kraal。　　He　had　men　with　him　every　bit　as　skilful　as　Arcoll's　trackers。　　Unless　Arcoll　had　a　big　force　and　the　best　horses　there　was　no　hope。　　Often　in　looking　back　at　this　hour　I　have　marvelled　at　the　strangeness　of　my　behaviour。　　Here　was　I　just　set　free　from　the　certainty　of　a　hideous　death；　and　yet　I　had　lost　all　joy　in　my　security。　　I　was　more　fevered　at　the　thought　of　Laputa's　escape　than　I　had　been　at　the　prospect　of　David　Crawfurd's　end。

The　next　thing　I　knew　I　was　being　lifted　off　the　Schimmel　by　what　seemed　to　me　a　thousand　hands。　　Then　came　a　glow　of　light；　a　great　moon；　in　the　centre　of　which　I　stood　blinking。　　I　was　forced　to　sit　down　on　a　bed；　while　I　was　given　a　cup　of　hot　tea；　far　more　reviving　than　any　spirits。　　I　became　conscious　that　some　one　was　holding　my　hands；　and　speaking　very　slowly　and　gently。

'Davie；'　the　voice　said；　'you're　back　among　friends；　my　lad。　Tell　me；　where　have　you　been？'

'I　want　Arcoll；'　I　moaned。　　'Where　is　Ratitswan？'　　There　were　tears　of　weakness　running　down　my　cheeks。

'Arcoll　is　here；'　said　the　voice；　'he　is　holding　your　hands；　Davie。　　Quiet；　lad；　quiet。　　Your　troubles　are　all　over　now。'

I　made　a　great　effort；　found　the　eyes　to　which　the　voice　belonged；　and　spoke　to　them。

'Listen。　　I　stole　the　collar　of　Prester　John　at　Dupree's　Drift。　I　was　caught　in　the　Berg　and　taken　to　the　kraal　…　I　forget　its　name　…　but　I　had　hid　the　rubies。'

'Yes；'　the　voice　said；　'you　hid　the　rubies；　…　and　then？'

'Inkulu　wanted　them　back；　so　I　made　a　deal　with　him。　　I　took　him　to　Machudi's　and　gave　him　the　collar；　and　then　he　fired　at　me　and　I　climbed　and　climbed　。。。　　I　climbed　on　a　horse；'　I　concluded　childishly。

I　heard　the　voice　say　'Yes？'　again　inquiringly；　but　my　mind　ran　off　at　a　tangent。

'Beyers　took　guns　up　into　the　Wolkberg；'　I　cried　shrilly。　'Why　the　devil　don't　you　do　the　same？　　You　have　the　whole　Kaffir　army　in　a　trap。'

I　saw　a　smiling　face　before　me。

'Good　lad。　　Colles　told　me　you　weren't　wanting　in　intelligence。　What　if　we　have　done　that　very　thing；　Davie？'

But　I　was　not　listening。　　I　was　trying　to　remember　the　thing　I　most　wanted　to　say；　and　that　was　not　about　Beyers　and　his　guns。　　Those　were　nightmare　minutes。　　A　speaker　who　has　lost　the　thread　of　his　discourse；　a　soldier　who　with　a　bayonet　at　his　throat　has　forgotten　the　password　…　I　felt　like　them；　and　worse。　And　to　crown　all　I　felt　my　faintness　coming　back；　and　my　head　dropping　with　heaviness。　　I　was　in　a　torment　of　impotence。

Arcoll；　still　holding　my　hands；　brought　his　face　close　to　mine；　so　that　his　clear　eyes　mastered　and　constrained　me。

'Look