she-第13章
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fathoms of the boat； much to Job's alarm； and； I will
confess； to my own。 These were the first hippopotami
that we had ever seen； and； to judge by their
insatiable curiosity； I should judge that we were the
first white men that they had ever seen。 Upon my word
l once or twice thought that they were coming into the
boat to gratify it。 Leo wanted to fire at them； but I
dissuaded him； fearing the consequences。 Also we saw
hundreds of crocodiles basking on the muddy banks； and
thousands upon thousands of waterfowl。 Some of these
we shot； and among them was a wild goose； which； in
addition to the sharp curved spurs on its wings； had a
spur about three quarters of an inch long growing from
the skull just between the eyes。 We never shot another
like it； so I do not know if it was a 〃sport〃 or a
distinct species。 In the latter case this incident may
interest naturalists。 Job named it the Unicorn Goose。
About midday the sun grew intensely hot； and the
stench drawn up by it from the marshes which the river
drains was something too awful； and caused us
instantly to swallow precautionary doses of quinine。
Shortly afterwards the breeze died away altogether；
and； as rowing our heavy boat against stream in the
heat was out of the question； we were thankful enough
to get under the shade of a group of treesa species
of willowthat grew by the edge of the river； and lie
there and gasp till at length the approach of sunset
put a period to our miseries。 Seeing what appeared to
be an open space of water straight ahead of us； we
determined to row there before settling what to do for
the night。 Just as we were about to loosen the boat；
however； a beautiful water…buck； with great horns
curving forward； and a white stripe across the rump；
came down to the river to drink； without perceiving us
hidden away within fifty yards under the willows。 Leo
was the first to catch sight of it； and being an
ardent sportsman； thirsting for the blood of big game；
about which he had been dreaming for months； he
instantly stiffened all over； and pointed like a
setter dog。 Seeing what was the matter； I handed him
his express rifle； at the same time taking my own。
〃Now then；〃 I whispered； 〃mind you don't miss。〃
〃Miss！〃 he whispered back； contemptuously； 〃I could
not miss it if I tried。〃
He lifted the rifle； and the roan…colored buck； having
drunk his fill； raised his head and looked out across
the river。 He was standing right against the sunset
sky on a little eminence； or ridge of ground； which
ran across the swamp； evidently a favorite path for
game； and there was something very beautiful about
him。 Indeed； I do not think that if I live to a
hundred I shall ever forget that desolate and yet most
fascinating scene； it is stamped upon my memory。 To
the right and left were wide stretches of lonely；
death…breeding swamp； unbroken and unrelieved so far
as the eye could reach； except here and there by ponds
of black and peaty water that； mirror…like； flashed up
the red rays of the setting sun。 Behind us and before
stretched the vista of the sluggish river； ending in
glimpses of a reed…fringed lagoon； on the surface of
which the long lights of the evening played as the
faint breeze stirred the shadows。 To the west loomed
the huge red ball of the sinking sun； now vanishing
down the vapory horizon； and filling the great heaven；
high across whose arch the cranes and wild fowl
streamed in line； square； and triangle； with flashes
of flying gold and the lurid stain of blood。 And then
ourselvesthree modern Englishmen in a modern English
boatseeming to jar upon and looking out of tone with
that measureless desolation； and in front of us the
noble buck limned out upon a background of ruddy sky。
_i_ Bang！ _i_ Away he goes with a mighty bound。 Leo
has missed him。 _i_ Bang！ _i_ right under him again。
Now for a shot。 I must have one； though he is going
like an arrow； and a hundred yards away and more。 By
Jove！ over and over and over！ 〃Well； I think I've
wiped your eye there； Master Leo；〃 I say； struggling
against the ungenerous exultation that in such a
supreme moment of one's existence will rise in the
best…mannered sportsman's breast。
〃Confound you； yes；〃 growled Leo； and then； with that
quick smile that is one of his charms lighting up his
handsome face with a ray of light； 〃I beg your pardon；
old fellow。 I congratulate you； it was a lovely shot；
and mine were vile。〃
We got out of the boat and ran to the buck； which was
shot through the spine and stone dead。 It took us a
quarter of an hour or more to clean it and cut off as
much of the best meat as we could carry； and； having
packed this away； we had barely light enough to row up
into the lagoon…like space； into which； there being a
hollow in the swamp； the river here expanded。 Just as
the light vanished we cast anchor about thirty fathoms
from the edge of the lake。 We did not dare to go
ashore； not knowing if we should find dry ground to
camp on； and greatly fearing the poisonous exhalations
from the marsh； from which we thought we should be
freer on the water。 So we lighted a lantern； and made
our evening meal off another potted tongue in the best
fashion that we could； and then prepared to go to
sleep； only； however； to find that sleep was
impossible。 For； whether they were attracted by the
lantern； or by the unaccustomed smell of a white man；
for which they had been waiting for the last thousand
years or so； I know not； but certainly we were
presently attacked by tens of thousands of the most
bloodthirsty； pertinacious； and huge mosquitoes that I
ever saw or read of。 In clouds they came； and pinged
and buzzed and bit till we were nearly mad。 Tobacco
smoke only seemed to stir them into a merrier and more
active life； till at length we were driven to covering
ourselves with blankets； head and all； and sitting to
slowly stew and continually scratch and swear beneath
them。 And as we sat； suddenly rolling out like thunder
through the silence came the deep roar of a lion； and
then of a second lion； moving among the reeds within
sixty yards of us。
〃I say；〃 said Leo； sticking his head out from under
his blanket； 〃lucky we ain't on the bank； eh；
avuncular？〃 （Leo sometimes addressed me in this
disrespectful way。） 〃Curse it！ a mosquito has bitten
me on the nose；〃 and the head vanished again。
Shortly； after this the moon came up； and
notwithstanding every variety of roar that echoed over
the water to us from the lions on the banks； we began；
thinking ourselves perfectly secure； to gradually doze
off。
I do not quite know what it was that made me poke my
head out of the friendly shelter of the blanket；
perhaps because I found that the mosquitoes were
biting right through it。 Anyhow； as I did so I heard
Job whisper； a frightened voice
〃Oh； my stars； look there！〃
Instantly we all of us looked； and this was what we
saw in the moonlight。 Near the shore were two wide and
ever…widening circles of concentric rings rippling
away across the surface of the water； and in the heart
and centre of the circles were two dark moving
objects。
〃What is it？〃 asked I。
〃It is those damned lions； sir；〃 answered Job； in a
tone which was an odd mixture of a sense of personal
injury； habitual respect； and acknowledged fear； 〃and
they are swimming here to heat us；〃 he added；
nervously picking up an 〃h〃 in his agitation。
I looked again； there was no doubt about it； I could
catch the glare of their ferocious eyes。 Attracted
either by the smell of the newly killed water buck
meat or of ourselves； the hungry beasts were actually
storming our position。
Leo already had his rifle in his hand。 I called to him
to wait till they were nearer； and meanwhile grabbed
my own。 Some fifteen feet from us the water shallowed
on a bank to the depth of about fifteen inches； and
presently the first of themit was the lionessgot
on to it and shook herself and roared。 At that moment
Leo fired； and the bullet went right down her open
mouth and out at the back of her neck； and down
