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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:19:44 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:19:44 -0700 |
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diff --git a/2728-h/2728-h.htm b/2728-h/2728-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2375bc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/2728-h/2728-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1209 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <title> + Hunter Quatermain's Story, by H. Rider Haggard + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hunter Quatermain's Story, by H. Rider Haggard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hunter Quatermain's Story + +Author: H. Rider Haggard + +Release Date: April 3, 2006 [EBook #2728] +Last Updated: September 23, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HUNTER QUATERMAIN'S STORY *** + + + + +Produced by John Bickers; Dagny; Emma Dudding; David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + HUNTER QUATERMAIN’S STORY + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by H. Rider Haggard + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Sir Henry Curtis, as everybody acquainted with him knows, is one of the + most hospitable men on earth. It was in the course of the enjoyment of his + hospitality at his place in Yorkshire the other day that I heard the + hunting story which I am now about to transcribe. Many of those who read + it will no doubt have heard some of the strange rumours that are flying + about to the effect that Sir Henry Curtis and his friend Captain Good, + R.N., recently found a vast treasure of diamonds out in the heart of + Africa, supposed to have been hidden by the Egyptians, or King Solomon, or + some other antique people. I first saw the matter alluded to in a + paragraph in one of the society papers the day before I started for + Yorkshire to pay my visit to Curtis, and arrived, needless to say, burning + with curiosity; for there is something very fascinating to the mind in the + idea of hidden treasure. When I reached the Hall, I at once asked Curtis + about it, and he did not deny the truth of the story; but on my pressing + him to tell it he would not, nor would Captain Good, who was also staying + in the house. + </p> + <p> + “You would not believe me if I did,” Sir Henry said, with one of the + hearty laughs which seem to come right out of his great lungs. “You must + wait till Hunter Quatermain comes; he will arrive here from Africa + to-night, and I am not going to say a word about the matter, or Good + either, until he turns up. Quatermain was with us all through; he has + known about the business for years and years, and if it had not been for + him we should not have been here to-day. I am going to meet him + presently.” + </p> + <p> + I could not get a word more out of him, nor could anybody else, though we + were all dying of curiosity, especially some of the ladies. I shall never + forget how they looked in the drawing-room before dinner when Captain Good + produced a great rough diamond, weighing fifty carats or more, and told + them that he had many larger than that. If ever I saw curiosity and envy + printed on fair faces, I saw them then. + </p> + <p> + It was just at this moment that the door was opened, and Mr. Allan + Quatermain announced, whereupon Good put the diamond into his pocket, and + sprang at a little man who limped shyly into the room, convoyed by Sir + Henry Curtis himself. + </p> + <p> + “Here he is, Good, safe and sound,” said Sir Henry, gleefully. “Ladies and + gentlemen, let me introduce you to one of the oldest hunters and the very + best shot in Africa, who has killed more elephants and lions than any + other man alive.” + </p> + <p> + Everybody turned and stared politely at the curious-looking little lame + man, and though his size was insignificant, he was quite worth staring at. + He had short grizzled hair, which stood about an inch above his head like + the bristles of a brush, gentle brown eyes, that seemed to notice + everything, and a withered face, tanned to the colour of mahogany from + exposure to the weather. He spoke, too, when he returned Good’s + enthusiastic greeting, with a curious little accent, which made his speech + noticeable. + </p> + <p> + It so happened that I sat next to Mr. Allan Quatermain at dinner, and, of + course, did my best to draw him; but he was not to be drawn. He admitted + that he had recently been a long journey into the interior of Africa with + Sir Henry Curtis and Captain Good, and that they had found treasure, and + then politely turned the subject and began to ask me questions about + England, where he had never been before—that is, since he came to + years of discretion. Of course, I did not find this very interesting, and + so cast about for some means to bring the conversation round again. + </p> + <p> + Now, we were dining in an oak-panelled vestibule, and on the wall opposite + to me were fixed two gigantic elephant tusks, and under them a pair of + buffalo horns, very rough and knotted, showing that they came off an old + bull, and having the tip of one horn split and chipped. I noticed that + Hunter Quatermain’s eyes kept glancing at these trophies, and took an + occasion to ask him if he knew anything about them. + </p> + <p> + “I ought to,” he answered, with a little laugh; “the elephant to which + those tusks belonged tore one of our party right in two about eighteen + months ago, and as for the buffalo horns, they were nearly my death, and + were the end of a servant of mine to whom I was much attached. I gave them + to Sir Henry when he left Natal some months ago;” and Mr. Quatermain + sighed and turned to answer a question from the lady whom he had taken + down to dinner, and who, needless to say, was also employed in trying to + pump him about the diamonds. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, all round the table there was a simmer of scarcely suppressed + excitement, which, when the servants had left the room, could no longer be + restrained. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mr. Quatermain,” said the lady next him, “we have been kept in an + agony of suspense by Sir Henry and Captain Good, who have persistently + refused to tell us a word of this story about the hidden treasure till you + came, and we simply can bear it no longer; so, please, begin at once.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said everybody, “go on, please.” + </p> + <p> + Hunter Quatermain glanced round the table apprehensively; he did not seem + to appreciate finding himself the object of so much curiosity. + </p> + <p> + “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said at last, with a shake of his grizzled + head, “I am very sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot do it. It is this + way. At the request of Sir Henry and Captain Good I have written down a + true and plain account of King Solomon’s Mines and how we found them, so + you will soon be able to learn all about that wonderful adventure for + yourselves; but until then I will say nothing about it, not from any wish + to disappoint your curiosity, or to make myself important, but simply + because the whole story partakes so much of the marvellous, that I am + afraid to tell it in a piecemeal, hasty fashion, for fear I should be set + down as one of those common fellows of whom there are so many in my + profession, who are not ashamed to narrate things they have not seen, and + even to tell wonderful stories about wild animals they have never killed. + And I think that my companions in adventure, Sir Henry Curtis and Captain + Good, will bear me out in what I say.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Quatermain, I think you are quite right,” said Sir Henry. “Precisely + the same considerations have forced Good and myself to hold our tongues. + We did not wish to be bracketed with—well, with other famous + travellers.” + </p> + <p> + There was a murmur of disappointment at these announcements. + </p> + <p> + “I believe you are all hoaxing us,” said the young lady next Mr. + Quatermain, rather sharply. + </p> + <p> + “Believe me,” answered the old hunter, with a quaint courtesy and a little + bow of his grizzled head; “though I have lived all my life in the + wilderness, and amongst savages, I have neither the heart, nor the want of + manners, to wish to deceive one so lovely.” + </p> + <p> + Whereat the young lady, who was pretty, looked appeased. + </p> + <p> + “This is very dreadful,” I broke in. “We ask for bread and you give us a + stone, Mr. Quatermain. The least that you can do is to tell us the story + of the tusks opposite and the buffalo horns underneath. We won’t let you + off with less.” + </p> + <p> + “I am but a poor story-teller,” put in the old hunter, “but if you will + forgive my want of skill, I shall be happy to tell you, not the story of + the tusks, for that is part of the history of our journey to King + Solomon’s Mines, but that of the buffalo horns beneath them, which is now + ten years old.” + </p> + <p> + “Bravo, Quatermain!” said Sir Henry. “We shall all be delighted. Fire + away! Fill up your glass first.” + </p> + <p> + The little man did as he was bid, took a sip of claret, and began:—“About + ten years ago I was hunting up in the far interior of Africa, at a place + called Gatgarra, not a great way from the Chobe River. I had with me four + native servants, namely, a driver and voorlooper, or leader, who were + natives of Matabeleland, a Hottentot named Hans, who had once been the + slave of a Transvaal Boer, and a Zulu hunter, who for five years had + accompanied me upon my trips, and whose name was Mashune. Now near + Gatgarra I found a fine piece of healthy, park-like country, where the + grass was very good, considering the time of year; and here I made a + little camp or head-quarter settlement, from whence I went expeditions on + all sides in search of game, especially elephant. My luck, however, was + bad; I got but little ivory. I was therefore very glad when some natives + brought me news that a large herd of elephants were feeding in a valley + about thirty miles away. At first I thought of trekking down to the + valley, waggon and all, but gave up the idea on hearing that it was + infested with the deadly ‘tsetse’ fly, which is certain death to all + animals, except men, donkeys, and wild game. So I reluctantly determined + to leave the waggon in the charge of the Matabele leader and driver, and + to start on a trip into the thorn country, accompanied only by the + Hottentot Hans, and Mashune. + </p> + <p> + “Accordingly on the following morning we started, and on the evening of + the next day reached the spot where the elephants were reported to be. But + here again we were met by ill luck. That the elephants had been there was + evident enough, for their spoor was plentiful, and so were other traces of + their presence in the shape of mimosa trees torn out of the ground, and + placed topsy-turvy on their flat crowns, in order to enable the great + beasts to feed on their sweet roots; but the elephants themselves were + conspicuous by their absence. They had elected to move on. This being so, + there was only one thing to do, and that was to move after them, which we + did, and a pretty hunt they led us. For a fortnight or more we dodged + about after those elephants, coming up with them on two occasions, and a + splendid herd they were—only, however, to lose them again. At length + we came up with them a third time, and I managed to shoot one bull, and + then they started off again, where it was useless to try and follow them. + After this I gave it up in disgust, and we made the best of our way back + to the camp, not in the sweetest of tempers, carrying the tusks of the + elephant I had shot. + </p> + <p> + “It was on the afternoon of the fifth day of our tramp that we reached the + little koppie overlooking the spot where the waggon stood, and I confess + that I climbed it with a pleasurable sense of home-coming, for his waggon + is the hunter’s home, as much as his house is that of the civilized + person. I reached the top of the koppie, and looked in the direction where + the friendly white tent of the waggon should be, but there was no waggon, + only a black burnt plain stretching away as far as the eye could reach. I + rubbed my eyes, looked again, and made out on the spot of the camp, not my + waggon, but some charred beams of wood. Half wild with grief and anxiety, + followed by Hans and Mashune, I ran at full speed down the slope of the + koppie, and across the space of plain below to the spring of water, where + my camp had been. I was soon there, only to find that my worst suspicions + were confirmed. + </p> + <p> + “The waggon and all its contents, including my spare guns and ammunition, + had been destroyed by a grass fire. + </p> + <p> + “Now before I started, I had left orders with the driver to burn off the + grass round the camp, in order to guard against accidents of this nature, + and here was the reward of my folly: a very proper illustration of the + necessity, especially where natives are concerned, of doing a thing one’s + self if one wants it done at all. Evidently the lazy rascals had not burnt + round the waggon; most probably, indeed, they had themselves carelessly + fired the tall and resinous tambouki grass near by; the wind had driven + the flames on to the waggon tent, and there was quickly an end of the + matter. As for the driver and leader, I know not what became of them: + probably fearing my anger, they bolted, taking the oxen with them. I have + never seen them from that hour to this. + </p> + <p> + “I sat down on the black veldt by the spring, and gazed at the charred + axles and disselboom of my waggon, and I can assure you, ladies and + gentlemen, I felt inclined to weep. As for Mashune and Hans they cursed + away vigorously, one in Zulu and the other in Dutch. Ours was a pretty + position. We were nearly 300 miles away from Bamangwato, the capital of + Khama’s country, which was the nearest spot where we could get any help, + and our ammunition, spare guns, clothing, food, and everything else, were + all totally destroyed. I had just what I stood in, which was a flannel + shirt, a pair of ‘veldt-schoons,’ or shoes of raw hide, my eight-bore + rifle, and a few cartridges. Hans and Mashune had also each a Martini + rifle and some cartridges, not many. And it was with this equipment that + we had to undertake a journey of 300 miles through a desolate and almost + uninhabited region. I can assure you that I have rarely been in a worse + position, and I have been in some queer ones. However, these things are + the natural incidents of a hunter’s life, and the only thing to do was to + make the best of them. + </p> + <p> + “Accordingly, after passing a comfortless night by the remains of my + waggon, we started next morning on our long journey towards civilization. + Now if I were to set to work to tell you all the troubles and incidents of + that dreadful journey I should keep you listening here till midnight; so I + will, with your permission, pass on to the particular adventure of which + the pair of buffalo horns opposite are the melancholy memento. + </p> + <p> + “We had been travelling for about a month, living and getting along as + best we could, when one evening we camped some forty miles from + Bamangwato. By this time we were indeed in a melancholy plight, footsore, + half starved, and utterly worn out; and, in addition, I was suffering from + a sharp attack of fever, which half blinded me and made me weak as a babe. + Our ammunition, too, was exhausted; I had only one cartridge left for my + eight-bore rifle, and Hans and Mashune, who were armed with Martini + Henrys, had three between them. It was about an hour from sundown when we + halted and lit a fire—for luckily we had still a few matches. It was + a charming spot to camp, I remember. Just off the game track we were + following was a little hollow, fringed about with flat-crowned mimosa + trees, and at the bottom of the hollow, a spring of clear water welled up + out of the earth, and formed a pool, round the edges of which grew an + abundance of watercresses of an exactly similar kind to those which were + handed round the table just now. Now we had no food of any kind left, + having that morning devoured the last remains of a little oribé antelope, + which I had shot two days previously. Accordingly Hans, who was a better + shot than Mashune, took two of the three remaining Martini cartridges, and + started out to see if he could not kill a buck for supper. I was too weak + to go myself. + </p> + <p> + “Meanwhile Mashune employed himself in dragging together some dead boughs + from the mimosa trees to make a sort of ‘skerm,’ or shelter for us to + sleep in, about forty yards from the edge of the pool of water. We had + been greatly troubled with lions in the course of our long tramp, and only + on the previous night have very nearly been attacked by them, which made + me nervous, especially in my weak state. Just as we had finished the + skerm, or rather something which did duty for one, Mashune and I heard a + shot apparently fired about a mile away. + </p> + <p> + “‘Hark to it!’ sung out Mashune in Zulu, more, I fancy, by way of keeping + his spirits up than for any other reason—for he was a sort of black + Mark Tapley, and very cheerful under difficulties. ‘Hark to the wonderful + sound with which the “Maboona” (the Boers) shook our fathers to the ground + at the Battle of the Blood River. We are hungry now, my father; our + stomachs are small and withered up like a dried ox’s paunch, but they will + soon be full of good meat. Hans is a Hottentot, and an “umfagozan,” that + is, a low fellow, but he shoots straight—ah! he certainly shoots + straight. Be of a good heart, my father, there will soon be meat upon the + fire, and we shall rise up men.’ + </p> + <p> + “And so he went on talking nonsense till I told him to stop, because he + made my head ache with his empty words. + </p> + <p> + “Shortly after we heard the shot the sun sank in his red splendour, and + there fell upon earth and sky the great hush of the African wilderness. + The lions were not up as yet, they would probably wait for the moon, and + the birds and beasts were all at rest. I cannot describe the intensity of + the quiet of the night: to me in my weak state, and fretting as I was over + the non-return of the Hottentot Hans, it seemed almost ominous—as + though Nature were brooding over some tragedy which was being enacted in + her sight. + </p> + <p> + “It was quiet—quiet as death, and lonely as the grave. + </p> + <p> + “‘Mashune,’ I said at last, ‘where is Hans? my heart is heavy for him.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Nay, my father, I know not; mayhap he is weary, and sleeps, or mayhap he + has lost his way.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Mashune, art thou a boy to talk folly to me?’ I answered. ‘Tell me, in + all the years thou hast hunted by my side, didst thou ever know a + Hottentot to lose his path or to sleep upon the way to camp?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Nay, Macumazahn’ (that, ladies, is my native name, and means the man who + ‘gets up by night,’ or who ‘is always awake’), ‘I know not where he is.’ + </p> + <p> + “But though we talked thus, we neither of us liked to hint at what was in + both our minds, namely, that misfortunate had overtaken the poor + Hottentot. + </p> + <p> + “‘Mashune,’ I said at last, ‘go down to the water and bring me of those + green herbs that grow there. I am hungered, and must eat something.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Nay, my father; surely the ghosts are there; they come out of the water + at night, and sit upon the banks to dry themselves. An Isanusi[*] told it + me.’ + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + [*] <i>Isanusi</i>, witch-finder. +</pre> + <p> + “Mashune was, I think, one of the bravest men I ever knew in the daytime, + but he had a more than civilized dread of the supernatural. + </p> + <p> + “‘Must I go myself, thou fool?’ I said, sternly. + </p> + <p> + “‘Nay, Macumazahn, if thy heart yearns for strange things like a sick + woman, I go, even if the ghosts devour me.’ + </p> + <p> + “And accordingly he went, and soon returned with a large bundle of + watercresses, of which I ate greedily. + </p> + <p> + “‘Art thou not hungry?’ I asked the great Zulu presently, as he sat eyeing + me eating. + </p> + <p> + “‘Never was I hungrier, my father.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Then eat,’ and I pointed to the watercresses. + </p> + <p> + “‘Nay, Macumazahn, I cannot eat those herbs.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘If thou dost not eat thou wilt starve: eat, Mashune.’ + </p> + <p> + “He stared at the watercresses doubtfully for a while, and at last seized + a handful and crammed them into his mouth, crying out as he did so, ‘Oh, + why was I born that I should live to feed on green weeds like an ox? + Surely if my mother could have known it she would have killed me when I + was born!’ and so he went on lamenting between each fistful of + watercresses till all were finished, when he declared that he was full + indeed of stuff, but it lay very cold on his stomach, ‘like snow upon a + mountain.’ At any other time I should have laughed, for it must be + admitted he had a ludicrous way of putting things. Zulus do not like green + food. + </p> + <p> + “Just after Mashune had finished his watercress, we heard the loud ‘woof! + woof!’ of a lion, who was evidently promenading much nearer to our little + skerm than was pleasant. Indeed, on looking into the darkness and + listening intently, I could hear his snoring breath, and catch the light + of his great yellow eyes. We shouted loudly, and Mashune threw some sticks + on the fire to frighten him, which apparently had the desired effect, for + we saw no more of him for a while. + </p> + <p> + “Just after we had had this fright from the lion, the moon rose in her + fullest splendour, throwing a robe of silver light over all the earth. I + have rarely seen a more beautiful moonrise. I remember that sitting in the + skerm I could with ease read faint pencil notes in my pocket-book. As soon + as the moon was up game began to trek down to the water just below us. I + could, from where I sat, see all sorts of them passing along a little + ridge that ran to our right, on their way to the drinking place. Indeed, + one buck—a large eland—came within twenty yards of the skerm, + and stood at gaze, staring at it suspiciously, his beautiful head and + twisted horns standing out clearly against the sky. I had, I recollect, + every mind to have a pull at him on the chance of providing ourselves with + a good supply of beef; but remembering that we had but two cartridges + left, and the extreme uncertainty of a shot by moonlight, I at length + decided to refrain. The eland presently moved on to the water, and a + minute or two afterwards there arose a great sound of splashing, followed + by the quick fall of galloping hoofs. + </p> + <p> + “‘What’s that, Mashune?’ I asked. + </p> + <p> + “‘That dam lion; buck smell him,’ replied the Zulu in English, of which he + had a very superficial knowledge. + </p> + <p> + “Scarcely were the words out of his mouth before we heard a sort of whine + over the other side of the pool, which was instantly answered by a loud + coughing roar close to us. + </p> + <p> + “‘By Jove!’ I said, ‘there are two of them. They have lost the buck; we + must look out they don’t catch us.’ And again we made up the fire, and + shouted, with the result that the lions moved off. + </p> + <p> + “‘Mashune,’ I said, ‘do you watch till the moon gets over that tree, when + it will be the middle of the night. Then wake me. Watch well, now, or the + lions will be picking those worthless bones of yours before you are three + hours older. I must rest a little, or I shall die.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Koos!’ (chief), answered the Zulu. ‘Sleep, my father, sleep in peace; my + eyes shall be open as the stars; and like the stars watch over you.’ + </p> + <p> + “Although I was so weak, I could not at once follow his advice. To begin + with, my head ached with fever, and I was torn with anxiety as to the fate + of the Hottentot Hans; and, indeed, as to our own fate, left with sore + feet, empty stomachs, and two cartridges, to find our way to Bamangwato, + forty miles off. Then the mere sensation of knowing that there are one or + more hungry lions prowling round you somewhere in the dark is disquieting, + however well one may be used to it, and, by keeping the attention on the + stretch, tends to prevent one from sleeping. In addition to all these + troubles, too, I was, I remember, seized with a dreadful longing for a + pipe of tobacco, whereas, under the circumstances, I might as well have + longed for the moon. + </p> + <p> + “At last, however, I fell into an uneasy sleep as full of bad dreams as a + prickly pear is of points, one of which, I recollect, was that I was + setting my naked foot upon a cobra which rose upon its tail and hissed my + name, ‘Macumazahn,’ into my ear. Indeed, the cobra hissed with such + persistency that at last I roused myself. + </p> + <p> + “‘<i>Macumazahn, nanzia, nanzia!</i>’ (there, there!) whispered Mashune’s + voice into my drowsy ears. Raising myself, I opened my eyes, and I saw + Mashune kneeling by my side and pointing towards the water. Following the + line of his outstretched hand, my eyes fell upon a sight that made me + jump, old hunter as I was even in those days. About twenty paces from the + little skerm was a large ant-heap, and on the summit of the ant-heap, her + four feet rather close together, so as to find standing space, stood the + massive form of a big lioness. Her head was towards the skerm, and in the + bright moonlight I saw her lower it and lick her paws. + </p> + <p> + “Mashune thrust the Martini rifle into my hands, whispering that it was + loaded. I lifted it and covered the lioness, but found that even in that + light I could not make out the foresight of the Martini. As it would be + madness to fire without doing so, for the result would probably be that I + should wound the lioness, if, indeed, I did not miss her altogether, I + lowered the rifle; and, hastily tearing a fragment of paper from one of + the leaves of my pocket-book, which I had been consulting just before I + went to sleep, I proceeded to fix it on to the front sight. But all this + took a little time, and before the paper was satisfactorily arranged, + Mashune again gripped me by the arm, and pointed to a dark heap under the + shade of a small mimosa tree which grew not more than ten paces from the + skerm. + </p> + <p> + “‘Well, what is it?’ I whispered; ‘I can see nothing.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘It is another lion,’ he answered. + </p> + <p> + “‘Nonsense! thy heart is dead with fear, thou seest double;’ and I bent + forward over the edge of the surrounding fence, and stared at the heap. + </p> + <p> + “Even as I said the words, the dark mass rose and stalked out into the + moonlight. It was a magnificent, black-maned lion, one of the largest I + had ever seen. When he had gone two or three steps he caught sight of me, + halted, and stood there gazing straight towards us;—he was so close + that I could see the firelight reflected in his wicked, greenish eyes. + </p> + <p> + “‘Shoot, shoot!’ said Mashune. ‘The devil is coming—he is going to + spring!’ + </p> + <p> + “I raised the rifle, and got the bit of paper on the foresight, straight + on to a little path of white hair just where the throat is set into the + chest and shoulders. As I did so, the lion glanced back over his shoulder, + as, according to my experience, a lion nearly always does before he + springs. Then he dropped his body a little, and I saw his big paws spread + out upon the ground as he put his weight on them to gather purchase. In + haste I pressed the trigger of the Martini, and not a moment too soon; + for, as I did so, he was in the act of springing. The report of the rifle + rang out sharp and clear on the intense silence of the night, and in + another second the great brute had landed on his head within four feet of + us, and rolling over and over towards us, was sending the bushes which + composed our little fence flying with convulsive strokes of his great + paws. We sprang out of the other side of the ‘skerm,’ and he rolled on to + it and into it and then right through the fire. Next he raised himself and + sat upon his haunches like a great dog, and began to roar. Heavens! how he + roared! I never heard anything like it before or since. He kept filling + his lungs with air, and then emitting it in the most heart-shaking volumes + of sound. Suddenly, in the middle of one of the loudest roars, he rolled + over on to his side and lay still, and I knew that he was dead. A lion + generally dies upon his side. + </p> + <p> + “With a sigh of relief I looked up towards his mate upon the ant-heap. She + was standing there apparently petrified with astonishment, looking over + her shoulder, and lashing her tail; but to our intense joy, when the dying + beast ceased roaring, she turned, and, with one enormous bound, vanished + into the night. + </p> + <p> + “Then we advanced cautiously towards the prostrate brute, Mashune droning + an improvised Zulu song as he went, about how Macumazahn, the hunter of + hunters, whose eyes are open by night as well as by day, put his hand down + the lion’s stomach when it came to devour him and pulled out his heart by + the roots, &c., &c., by way of expressing his satisfaction, in his + hyperbolical Zulu way, at the turn events had taken. + </p> + <p> + “There was no need for caution; the lion was as dead as though he had + already been stuffed with straw. The Martini bullet had entered within an + inch of the white spot I had aimed at, and travelled right through him, + passing out at the right buttock, near the root of the tail. The Martini + has wonderful driving power, though the shock it gives to the system is, + comparatively speaking, slight, owing to the smallness of the hole it + makes. But fortunately the lion is an easy beast to kill. + </p> + <p> + “I passed the rest of that night in a profound slumber, my head reposing + upon the deceased lion’s flank, a position that had, I thought, a + beautiful touch of irony about it, though the smell of his singed hair was + disagreeable. When I woke again the faint primrose lights of dawn were + flushing in the eastern sky. For a moment I could not understand the chill + sense of anxiety that lay like a lump of ice at my heart, till the feel + and smell of the skin of the dead lion beneath my head recalled the + circumstances in which we were placed. I rose, and eagerly looked round to + see if I could discover any signs of Hans, who, if he had escaped + accident, would surely return to us at dawn, but there were none. Then + hope grew faint, and I felt that it was not well with the poor fellow. + Setting Mashune to build up the fire I hastily removed the hide from the + flank of the lion, which was indeed a splendid beast, and cutting off some + lumps of flesh, we toasted and ate them greedily. Lions’ flesh, strange as + it may seem, is very good eating, and tastes more like veal than anything + else. + </p> + <p> + “By the time we had finished our much-needed meal the sun was getting up, + and after a drink of water and a wash at the pool, we started to try and + find Hans, leaving the dead lion to the tender mercies of the hyænas. Both + Mashune and myself were, by constant practice, pretty good hands at + tracking, and we had not much difficulty in following the Hottentot’s + spoor, faint as it was. We had gone on in this way for half-an-hour or so, + and were, perhaps, a mile or more from the site of our camping-place, when + we discovered the spoor of a solitary bull buffalo mixed up with the spoor + of Hans, and were able, from various indications, to make out that he had + been tracking the buffalo. At length we reached a little glade in which + there grew a stunted old mimosa thorn, with a peculiar and overhanging + formation of root, under which a porcupine, or an ant-bear, or some such + animal, had hollowed out a wide-lipped hole. About ten or fifteen paces + from this thorn-tree there was a thick patch of bush. + </p> + <p> + “‘See, Macumazahn! see!’ said Mashune, excitedly, as we drew near the + thorn; ‘the buffalo has charged him. Look, here he stood to fire at him; + see how firmly he planted his feet upon the earth; there is the mark of + his crooked toe (Hans had one bent toe). Look! here the bull came like a + boulder down the hill, his hoofs turning up the earth like a hoe. Hans had + hit him: he bled as he came; there are the blood spots. It is all written + down there, my father—there upon the earth.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes,’ I said; ‘yes; but <i>where is Hans?</i>’ + </p> + <p> + “Even as I said it Mashune clutched my arm, and pointed to the stunted + thorn just by us. Even now, gentlemen, it makes me feel sick when I think + of what I saw. + </p> + <p> + “For fixed in a stout fork of the tree some eight feet from the ground was + Hans himself, or rather his dead body, evidently tossed there by the + furious buffalo. One leg was twisted round the fork, probably in a dying + convulsion. In the side, just beneath the ribs, was a great hole, from + which the entrails protruded. But this was not all. The other leg hung + down to within five feet of the ground. The skin and most of the flesh + were gone from it. For a moment we stood aghast, and gazed at this + horrifying sight. Then I understood what had happened. The buffalo, with + that devilish cruelty which distinguishes the animal, had, after his enemy + was dead, stood underneath his body, and licked the flesh off the pendant + leg with his file-like tongue. I had heard of such a thing before, but had + always treated the stories as hunters’ yarns; but I had no doubt about it + now. Poor Hans’ skeleton foot and ankle were an ample proof. + </p> + <p> + “We stood aghast under the tree, and stared and stared at this awful + sight, when suddenly our cogitations were interrupted in a painful manner. + The thick bush about fifteen paces off burst asunder with a crashing + sound, and uttering a series of ferocious pig-like grunts, the bull + buffalo himself came charging out straight at us. Even as he came I saw + the blood mark on his side where poor Hans’ bullet had struck him, and + also, as is often the case with particularly savage buffaloes, that his + flanks had recently been terribly torn in an encounter with a lion. + </p> + <p> + “On he came, his head well up (a buffalo does not generally lower his head + till he does so to strike); those great black horns—as I look at + them before me, gentlemen, I seem to see them come charging at me as I did + ten years ago, silhouetted against the green bush behind;—on, on!” + </p> + <p> + “With a shout Mashune bolted off sideways towards the bush. I had + instinctively lifted my eight-bore, which I had in my hand. It would have + been useless to fire at the buffalo’s head, for the dense horns must have + turned the bullet; but as Mashune bolted, the bull slewed a little, with + the momentary idea of following him, and as this gave me a ghost of a + chance, I let drive my only cartridge at his shoulder. The bullet struck + the shoulder-blade and smashed it up, and then travelled on under the skin + into his flank; but it did not stop him, though for a second he staggered. + </p> + <p> + “Throwing myself on to the ground with the energy of despair, I rolled + under the shelter of the projecting root of the thorn, crushing myself as + far into the mouth of the ant-bear hole as I could. In a single instant + the buffalo was after me. Kneeling down on his uninjured knee—for + one leg, that of which I had broken the shoulder, was swinging helplessly + to and fro—he set to work to try and hook me out of the hole with + his crooked horn. At first he struck at me furiously, and it was one of + the blows against the base of the tree which splintered the tip of the + horn in the way that you see. Then he grew more cunning, and pushed his + head as far under the root as possible, made long semicircular sweeps at + me, grunting furiously, and blowing saliva and hot steamy breath all over + me. I was just out of reach of the horn, though every stroke, by widening + the hole and making more room for his head, brought it closer to me, but + every now and again I received heavy blows in the ribs from his muzzle. + Feeling that I was being knocked silly, I made an effort and seizing his + rough tongue, which was hanging from his jaws, I twisted it with all my + force. The great brute bellowed with pain and fury, and jerked himself + backwards so strongly, that he dragged me some inches further from the + mouth of the hole, and again made a sweep at me, catching me this time + round the shoulder-joint in the hook of his horn. + </p> + <p> + “I felt that it was all up now, and began to holloa. + </p> + <p> + “‘He has got me!’ I shouted in mortal terror. ‘<i>Gwasa, Mashune, gwasa!</i>’ + (‘Stab, Mashune, stab!’). + </p> + <p> + “One hoist of the great head, and out of the hole I came like a periwinkle + out of his shell. But even as I did so, I caught sight of Mashune’s + stalwart form advancing with his ‘bangwan,’ or broad stabbing assegai, + raised above his head. In another quarter of a second I had fallen from + the horn, and heard the blow of the spear, followed by the indescribable + sound of steel shearing its way through flesh. I had fallen on my back, + and, looking up, I saw that the gallant Mashune had driven the assegai a + foot or more into the carcass of the buffalo, and was turning to fly. + </p> + <p> + “Alas! it was too late. Bellowing madly, and spouting blood from mouth and + nostrils, the devilish brute was on him, and had thrown him up like a + feather, and then gored him twice as he lay. I struggled up with some wild + idea of affording help, but before I had gone a step the buffalo gave one + long sighing bellow, and rolled over dead by the side of his victim. + </p> + <p> + “Mashune was still living, but a single glance at him told me that his + hour had come. The buffalo’s horn had driven a great hole in his right + lung, and inflicted other injuries. + </p> + <p> + “I knelt down beside him in the uttermost distress, and took his hand. + </p> + <p> + “‘Is he dead, Macumazahn?’ he whispered. ‘My eyes are blind; I cannot + see.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes, he is dead.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Did the black devil hurt thee, Macumazahn?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘No, my poor fellow, I am not much hurt.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Ow! I am glad.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then came a long silence, broken only by the sound of the air whistling + through the hole in his lung as he breathed. + </p> + <p> + “‘Macumazahn, art thou there? I cannot feel thee.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I am here, Mashune.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I die, Macumazahn—the world flies round and round. I go—I go + out into the dark! Surely, my father, at times in days to come—thou + wilt think of Mashune who stood by thy side—when thou killest + elephants, as we used—as we used——’ + </p> + <p> + “They were his last words, his brave spirit passed with him. I dragged his + body to the hole under the tree, and pushed it in, placing his broad + assegai by him, according to the custom of his people, that he might not + go defenceless on his long journey; and then, ladies—I am not + ashamed to confess—I stood alone there before it, and wept like a + woman.” + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Hunter Quatermain’s Story, by H. 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