the land of footprints-第54部分
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s and beautiful glowing red coats。 Sometimes they would venture out on the open plains； in a very compact band； ready to break back for cover at the slightest alarm； but generally fed inside the fringe of bushes。 Once from the bluff above I saw a beautiful herd of over a hundred pacing decorously along the river bottom below me； single file； the oldest buck at the head； and the miscellaneous small buck bringing up the rear after the does。 I shouted at them。 Immediately the solemn procession broke。 They began to leap； springing straight up into the air as though from a released spring； or diving forward and upward in long graceful bounds like dolphins at sea。 These leaps were incredible。 Several even jumped quite over the backs of others； and all without a semblance of effort。
Along the fringe of the river； too； dwelt the lordly waterbuck； magnificent and proud as the stags of Landseer； and the tiny steinbuck and duiker； no bigger than jack…rabbits； but perfect little deer for all that。 The incredibly plebeian wart…hog rooted about； and down in the bottom lands were leopards。 I knocked one off a rock one day。 In the river itself dwelt hippopotamuses and crocodiles。 One of the latter dragged under a yearling calf just below the house itself； and while we were there。 Besides these were of course such affairs as hyenas and jackals； and great numbers of small game： hares； ducks； three kinds of grouse； guinea fowl； pigeons； quail； and jack snipe； not to speak of a variety of plover。
In the drier extents of dry grass atop the bluffs the dance birds were especially numerous； each with his dance ring nicely trodden out； each leaping and falling rhythmically for hours at a time。 Toward sunset great flights of sand grouse swarmed across the yellowing sky from some distant feeding ground。
Near Juja I had one of the three experiences that especially impressed on my mind the abundance of African big game。 I had stalked and wounded a wildebeeste across the N'derogo River； and had followed him a mile or so afoot； hoping to be able to put in a finishing shot。 As sometimes happens the animal rather gained strength as time went on； so I signalled for my horse； mounted； and started out to run him down。 After a quarter mile we began to pick up the game herds。 Those directly in our course ran straight away； other herds on either side； seeing them running； came across in a slant to join them。 Inside of a half mile I was driving before me literally thousands of head of game of several varieties。 The dust rose in a choking cloud that fairly obscured the landscape； and the drumming of the hooves was like the stampeding of cattle。 It was a wonderful sight。
On the plains of Juja； also； I had my one real African Adventure； when； as in the Sunday Supplements； I Stared Death in the Face…also everlasting disgrace and much derision。 We were just returning to the farm after an afternoon's walk； and as we approached I began to look around for much needed meat。 A herd of zebra stood in sight； so leaving Memba Sasa I began to stalk them。 My usual weapon for this sort of thing was the Springfield； for which I carried extra cartridges in my belt。 On this occasion； however； I traded with Memba Sasa for the 405； simply for the purpose of trying it out。 At a few paces over three hundred yards I landed on the zebra； but did not knock him down。 Then I set out to follow。 It was a long job and took me far； for again and again he joined other zebra； when； of course； I could not tell one from t'other。 My only expedient was to frighten the lot。 There upon the uninjured ones would distance the one that was hurt。 The latter kept his eye on me。 Whenever I managed to get within reasonable distance； I put up the rear sight of the 405； and let drive。 I heard every shot hit； and after each hit was more than a little astonished to see the zebra still on his feet； and still able to wobble on。* The fifth shot emptied the rifle。 As I had no more cartridges for this arm； I approached to within sixty yards； and stopped to wait either for him to fall； or for a very distant Memba Sasa to come up with more cartridges。 Then the zebra waked up。 He put his ears back and came straight in my direction。 This rush I took for a blind death flurry； and so dodged off to one side； thinking that he would of course go by me。 Not at all！ He swung around on the circle too； and made after me。 I could see that his ears were back； eyes blazing； and his teeth snapping with rage。 It was a malicious charge； and； as such； with due deliberation； I offer it to sportsman's annals。 As I had no more cartridges I ran away as fast as I could go。 Although I made rather better time than ever I had attained to before； it was evident that the zebra would catch me； and as the brute could paw； bite； and kick； I did not much care for the situation。 Just as he had nearly reached me； and as I was trying to figure on what kind of a fight I could put up with a clubbed rifle barrel； he fell dead。 To be killed by a lion is at least a dignified death； but to be mauled by a zebra！
I am sorry I did not try out this heavy…calibred rifle oftener at long range。 It was a marvellously effective weapon at close quarters； but I have an idea…but only a tentative idea…that above three hundred yards its velocity is so reduced by air resistance against the big blunt bullet as greatly to impair its hitting powers。
We generally got back from our walks or rides just before dark to find the house gleaming with lights； a hot bath ready； and a tray of good wet drinks next the easy chairs。 There； after changing our clothes； we sipped and read the papers…two months off the press； but fresh arrived for all that…until a white…robed； dignified figure appeared in the doorway to inform us that dinner was ready。 Our ways were civilized and soft； then； until the morrow when once again； perhaps； we went forth into the African wilderness。
Juja is a place of startling contrasts…of naked savages clipping formal hedges； of windows opening from a perfectly appointed brilliantly lighted dining…room to a night whence float the lost wails of hyenas or the deep grumbling of lions； of cushioned luxurious chairs in reach of many books； but looking out on hills where the game herds feed； of comfortable beds with fine linen and soft blankets where one lies listening to the voices of an African night； or the weirder minor house noises whose origin and nature no man could guess； of tennis courts and summer houses； of lawns and hammocks； of sundials and clipped hedges separated only by a few strands of woven wire from fields identical with those in which roamed the cave men of the Pleistocene。 But to Billy was reserved the most ridiculous contrast of all。 Her bedroom opened to a veranda a few feet above a formal garden。 This was a very formal garden； with a sundial； gravelled walks； bordered flower beds； and clipped border hedges。 One night she heard a noise outside。 Slipping on a warm wrap and seizing her trusty revolver she stole out on the veranda to investigate。 She looked over the veranda rail。 There just below her； trampling the flower beds； tracking the gravel walks； endangering the sundial； stood a hippopotamus！
We had neighbours six or seven miles away。 At times they came down to spend the night and luxuriate in the comforts of civilization。 They were a Lady A。； and her nephew； and a young Scotch acquaintance the nephew had taken into partnership。 They had built themselves circular houses of papyrus reeds with conical thatched roofs and earth floors； had purchased ox teams and gathered a dozen or so Kikuyus； and were engaged in breaking a farm in the wilderness。 The life was rough and hard； and Lady A。 and her nephew gently bred； but they seemed to be having quite cheerfully the time of their lives。 The game furnished them meat； as it did all of us； and they hoped in time that their labours would make the land valuable and productive。 Fascinating as was the life； it was also one of many deprivations。 At Juja were a number of old copies of Life； the pretty girls in which so fascinated the young men that we broke the laws of propriety by presenting them； though they did not belong to us。 C。； the nephew； was of the finest type of young Englishman； clean cut； enthusiastic； good looking； with an air of engaging vitality and optimism。 His partner； of his own age； was an insufferable youth。 Brought up in some small Scottish valley； his outlook had never widened。 Because he wanted to buy four oxen at a cheaper price； he tried desperately to abrogate quarantine regulations。 If he had succeeded； he would have made a few rupees； but would have introduced disease in his neighbours' herds。 This consideration did not affect him。 He was much given to sneering at what he could not understand； and therefore； a great deal met with his disapproval。 His reading had evidently brought him down only to about the middle sixties； and affairs at that date were to him still burning questions。 Thus he would declaim vehemently over the Alabama claims。
〃I blush with shame；〃 he would cry； 〃when I think of England's attitude in that matter。〃
We pointed out that the dispute had been amicably settled by the best minds of the time； had passed between the covers of history； and had g
