she-第20章
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Here this extraordinary woman broke off her speech； or
chant； which was so much musical gibberish to us； for
all that we understood of what she was talking about；
and seemed to fix her flashing eyes upon the deep
shadow before her。 Then in a moment they acquired a
vacant； terrified stare； as though they were striving
to realize some half seen horror。 She lifted her hand
from Leo's head； and pointed into the darkness。 We all
looked； and could see nothing； but she saw something；
or thought she did； and something evidently that
affected even her iron nerves； for； without another
sound； down she fell senseless between us。
Leo； who was growing really attached to this
remarkable young person； was in a great state of alarm
and distress； and I； to be perfectly candid； was in a
condition not far removed from superstitious fear。 The
whole scene was an uncanny one。
Presently； however； she recovered； and sat up with an
extraordinary convulsive shudder。
〃What didst thou mean； Ustane？〃 asked Leo； who； thanks
to years of tuition； spoke Arabic very prettily。
〃Nay； my chosen；〃 she answered； with a little forced
laugh； 〃I did but sing unto thee after the fashion of
my people。 Surely； I meant nothing。 How could I speak
of that which is not yet？〃
〃And what didst thou see； Ustane？〃 I asked； looking
her sharply in the face。
〃Nay；〃 she answered again； 〃I saw naught。 Ask me not
what I saw。 Why should I fright ye？〃 And then； turning
to Leo with a look of the most utter tenderness that I
ever saw upon the face of a woman； civilized or
savage； she took his head between her hands； and
kissed him on the forehead as a mother might。 〃When I
am gone from thee； my chosen； when at night thou
stretchest out： thy hand and canst not find me； then
shouldst thou think at times of me； for of a truth I
love thee well； though I be not fit to wash thy feet。
And now let us love and take that which is given us；
and be happy； for in the grave there is no love and no
warmth； nor any touching of the lips。 Nothing
perchance； or perchance but bitter memories of what
might have been。 To…night the hours are our own； how
know we to whom they shall belong to…morrow？〃
CHAPTER VIII
THE FEAST； AND AFTER！
On the day following this remarkable scenea scene
calculated to make a deep impression upon anybody who
beheld it； more because of what it suggested and
seemed to foreshadow than of what it revealedit was
announced to us that a feast would be held that
evening in our honor。 I did my best to get out of it；
saying that we were modest people； and cared little
for feasts but my remarks being received with the
silence of displeasure； I thought it wisest to hold my
tongue。
Accordingly； just before sundown； I was informed that
everything was ready； and； accompanied by Job； went
into the cave； where I met Leo； who was； as usual；
followed by Ustane。 These two had been out walking
somewhere； and knew nothing of the projected festivity
till that moment。 When Ustane heard of it I saw an
expression of horror spring up upon her handsome
features。 Turning； she caught a man who was passing up
the cave by the arm； and asked him something in an
imperious tone。 His answer seemed to reassure her a
little； for she； looked relieved； though far from
satisfied。 Next she appeared to attempt some
remonstrance with the man； who was a person in
authority； but he spoke angrily to her； and shook her
off； and then； changing his mind； led her by the arm；
and sat her down between himself and another man in
the circle round the fire； and I perceived that for
some reason of her own she thought it best to submit。
The fire in the cave was an unusually big one that
night； and in a large circle round it were gathered
about thirty…five men and two women； Ustane and the
woman to avoid whom Job had played the role of another
Scriptural character。 The men were sitting in perfect
silence； as was their custom； each with his great
spear stuck upright behind him； in a socket cut in the
rock for that purpose。 Only one or two wore the
yellowish linen garment of which I have spoken； the
rest had nothing on except the leopard's skin about
the middle。
〃What's up now； sir？〃 said Job； doubtfully。 〃Bless us
and save us； there's that woman again。 Now； surely；
she can't be after me； seeing that I have given her no
encouragement。 They give me the creeps； the whole lot
of them； and that's a fact。 Why； look； they have asked
Mahomed to dine； too。 There； that lady of mine is
talking to him in as nice and civil a way as possible。
Well； I'm glad it isn't me； that's all。〃
We looked up； and sure enough the woman in question
had risen； and was escorting the wretched Mahomed from
the corner； where； overcome by some acute prescience
of horror； he had been seated； shivering and calling
on Allah。 He appeared unwilling enough to come； if for
no other reason perhaps because it was an unaccustomed
honor； for hitherto his food had been given to him
apart。 Anyway I could see that he was in a state of
great terror； for his tottering legs would scarcely
support his stout； bulky form； and I think it was
rather owing to the resources of barbarism behind him；
in the shape of a huge Amahagger with a
proportionately huge spear； than to the seduction of
the lady who led him by the hand； that he consented to
come at all。
〃Well；〃 I said to the others； 〃I don't at all like the
look of things； but I suppose that we must face it
out。 Have you fellows got your revolvers on because；
if so； you had better see that they're loaded。〃
〃I have； sir；〃 said Job； tapping his Colt； 〃but Mr。
Leo has only got his hunting…knife； though that is big
enough； surely。〃
Feeling that it would not do to wait while the missing
weapon was fetched； we advanced boldly； and seated
ourselves in a line； with our backs against the side
of the cave。
As soon as we were seated； an earthenware jar was
passed round containing a fermented fluid； of by no
means unpleasant taste； though apt to turn upon the
stomach； made of crushed grainnot Indian corn； but a
small brown grain that grows upon the stem in
clusters； not unlike that which in the southern part
of Africa is known by the name of Kaffir corn。 The
vase in which this liquid was handed round was very
curious； and as it more or less resembled many
hundreds of others in use among the Amahagger I may as
well describe it。 These vases are of a very ancient
manufacture； and of all sizes。 None such can have been
made in the country for hundreds； or rather thousands；
of years。 They are found in the rock tombs； of which I
shall give a description in their proper place； and my
own belief is that； after the fashion of the
Egyptians； with whom the former inhabitants of this
country may have had some connection； they were used
to receive the viscera of the dead。 Leo； however； is
of opinion that； as in the case of Etruscan amphorae；
they were placed there for the spiritual use of the
deceased。 They are mostly two…handled； and of all
sizes； some being nearly three feet in height； and
running from that down to as many inches。 In shape
they vary； but are all exceedingly beautiful and
graceful； being made of a very fine black ware； not
lustrous； but slightly rough。 On this groundwork were
inlaid figures much more graceful and lifelike than
any others I have seen on antique vases。 Some of these
inlaid pictures represented love…scenes with a child…
like simplicity and freedom of manner which would not
commend itself to the taste of the present day。 Others
again were pictures of maidens dancing； and yet others
of hunting…scenes。 For instance； the very vase from
which we were then drinking had on one side a most
spirited drawing of men； apparently white in color；
attacking a bull…elephant with spears； while on the
reverse was a picture not quite so well done； of a
hunter shooting an arrow at a running antelope； I
should say； from the look of it； either an eland or a
koodoo。
This is a digression at a critical point but it is not
too long for the oc
