the land of footprints-第52部分
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handful of soldiers alone of the natives； except the Somalis and syces； dwelt within the compound in a group of huts near the gate。 There when off duty they might be seen polishing their arms； or chatting with their women。 The latter were ladies of leisure； with wonderful chignons； much jewelery； and patterned Mericani wrapped gracefully about their pretty figures。
By the time we had seen all these things it was noon。 We ate lunch。 The various members of the party decided to do various things。 I elected to go out with McMillan while he killed a wildebeeste； and I am very glad I did。 It was a most astonishing performance。
You must imagine us driving out the gate in a buckboard behind four small but lively white Abyssinian mules。 In the front seat were Michael； the Hottentot driver； and McMillan's Somali gunbearer。 In the rear seat were McMillan and myself； while a small black syce perched precariously behind。 Our rifles rested in a sling before us。 So we jogged out on the road to Long Juju； examining with a critical eye the herds of game to right and left of us。 The latter examined us； apparently； with an eye as critical。 Finally； in a herd of zebra； we espied a lone wildebeeste。
The wildebeeste is the Jekyll and Hyde of the animal kingdom。 His usual and familiar habit is that of a heavy； sluggish animal； like our vanished bison。 He stands solid and inert； his head down； he plods slowly forward in single file； his horns swinging； each foot planted deliberately。 In short； he is the personification of dignity； solid respectability； gravity of demeanour。 But then all of a sudden； at any small interruption； he becomes the giddiest of created beings。 Up goes his head and tail； he buck jumps； cavorts； gambols； kicks up his heels； bounds stiff…legged； and generally performs like an irresponsible infant。 To see a whole herd at once of these grave and reverend seigneurs suddenly blow up into such light…headed capers goes far to destroy one's faith in the stability of institutions。
Also the wildebeeste is not misnamed。 He is a conservative； and he sees no particular reason for allowing his curiosity to interfere with his preconceived beliefs。 The latter are distrustful。 Therefore he and his females and his young…I should say small…depart when one is yet far away。 I say small； because I do not believe that any wildebeeste is ever young。 They do not resemble calves； but are exact replicas of the big ones； just as Niobe's daughters are in nothing childlike； but merely smaller women。
When we caught sight of this lone wildebeeste among the zebra； I naturally expected that we would pull up the buckboard； descend； and approach to within some sort of long range。 Then we would open fire。 Barring luck； the wildebeeste would thereupon depart 〃wilder and beestier than ever；〃 as John McCutcheon has it。 Not at all！ Michael； the Hottentot； turned the buckboard off the road； headed toward the distant quarry； and charged at full speed！ Over stones we went that sent us feet into the air； down and out of shallow gullies that seemed as though they would jerk the pole from the vehicle with a grand rattlety…bang； every one hanging on for his life。 I was entirely occupied with the state of my spinal column and the retention of my teeth； but McMillan must have been keeping his eye on the game。 One peculiarity of the wildebeeste is that he cannot see behind him； and another is that he is curious。 It would not require a very large bump of curiosity； however； to cause any animal to wonder what all the row was about。 There could be no doubt that this animal would sooner or later stop for an instant to look for the purpose of seeing what was up in jungleland； and just before doing so he would； for a few steps； slow down from a gallop to a trot。 McMillan was watching for this symptom。
〃Now！〃 he yelled； when he saw it。
Instantly Michael threw his weight into the right rein and against the brake。 We swerved so violently to the right and stopped so suddenly that I nearly landed on the broad prairies。 The manoeuvre fetched us up broadside。 The small black syce…and heaven knows how HE had managed to hang on…darted to the heads of the leading mules。 At the same moment the wildebeeste turned； and stopped； but even before he had swung his head； McMillan had fired。 It was extraordinarily good； quick work； the way he picked up the long range from the spurts of dust where the bullets hit。 At the third or fourth shots he landed one。 Immediately the beast was off again at a tearing run pursued by a rapid fusillade from the remaining shots。 Then with a violent jerk and a wild yell we were off again。
This time； since the animal was wounded； he made for rougher country。 And everywhere that wildebeeste went we too were sure to go。 We hit or shaved boulders that ought to have smashed a wheel； we tore through thick brush regardless。 Twice we charged unhesitatingly over apparent precipices。 I do not know the name of the manufacturer of the buckboard。 If I did； I should certainly recommend it here。 Twice more we swerved to our broadside and cut loose the port batteries。 Once more McMillan hit。 Then； on the fourth 〃run；〃 we gained perceptibly。 The beast was weakening。 When he came to a stumbling halt we were not over a hundred yards from him； and McMillan easily brought him down。 We had chased him four or five miles； and McMillan had fired nineteen shots； of which two had hit。 The rifle practice throughout had been remarkably good； and a treat to watch。 Personally； besides the fun of attending the show； I got a mighty good afternoon's exercise。
We loaded the game aboard and jogged slowly back to the house； for the mules were pretty tired。 We found a neighbour； Mr。 Heatley of Kamiti Ranch who had 〃dropped down〃 twelve miles to see us。 On account of a theft McMillan now had all the Somalis assembled for interrogation on the side verandas。 The interrogation did not amount to much； but while it was going on the Sudanese headman and his askaris were quietly searching the boys' quarters。 After a time they appeared。 The suspected men had concealed nothing； but the searchers brought with them three of McMillan's shirts which they had found among the effects of another； and entirely unsuspected； boy named Abadie。
〃How is this； Abadie？〃 demanded McMillan sternly。
Abadie hesitated。 Then he evidently reflected that there is slight use in having a deity unless one makes use of him。
〃Bwana；〃 said he with an engaging air of belief and candour； 〃God must have put them there！〃
That evening we planned a 〃general day〃 for the morrow。 We took boys and buckboards and saddle…horses； beaters； shotguns； rifles； and revolvers； and we sallied forth for a grand and joyous time。 The day from a sporting standpoint was entirely successful； the bag consisting of two waterbuck； a zebra； a big wart…hog； six hares； and six grouse。 Personally I was a little hazy and uncertain。 By evening the fever had me； and though I stayed at Juja for six days longer； it was as a patient to McMillan's unfailing kindness rather than as a participant in the life of the farm。
XXVIII。 A RESIDENCE AT JUJA
A short time later； at about middle of the rainy season； McMillan left for a little fishing off Catalina Island。 The latter is some fourteen thousand miles of travel from Juja。 Before leaving on this flying trip； McMillan made us a gorgeous offer。
〃If；〃 said he； 〃you want to go it alone； you can go out and use Juja as long as you please。〃
This offer； or； rather； a portion of it； you may be sure； we accepted promptly。 McMillan wanted in addition to leave us his servants； but to this we would not agree。 Memba Sasa and Mahomet were； of course； members of our permanent staff。 In addition to them we picked up another house boy； named Leyeye。 He was a Masai。 These proud and aristocratic savages rarely condescend to take service of any sort except as herders； but when they do they prove to be unusually efficient and intelligent。 We had also a Somali cook； and six ordinary bearers to do general labour。 This small safari we started off afoot for Juja。 The whole lot cost us about what we would pay one Chinaman on the Pacific Coast。
Next day we ourselves drove out in the mule buckboard。 The rains were on； and the road was very muddy。 After the vital tropical fashion the grass was springing tall in the natural meadows and on the plains and the brief…lived white lilies and an abundance of ground flowers washed the slopes with colour。 Beneath the grass covering； the entire surface of the ground was an inch or so deep in water。 This was always most surprising； for； apparently； the whole country should have been high and dry。 Certainly its level was that of a plateau rather than a bottom land； so that one seemed always to be travelling at an elevation。 Nevertheless walking or riding we were continually splashing； and the only dry going outside the occasional rare 〃islands〃 of the slight undulations we found near the very edge of the bluffs above the rivers。 There the drainage seemed sufficient to carry off the excess。 Elsewhere the hardpan or bedrock must have been exceptionally level and near the top of the ground。
Nothing nor nobody seemed to mind this much。 The game splashed around merrily； cropping at th
