登陆注册
5228000000038

第38章 CHAPTER VIII THE CAMP OF DEATH(3)

At length, under the guidance of this woman, Jeel, we made a start.

There were but fifty miles to go, a distance that on a fair road any good horse would cover in eight hours, or less. But we had no horses, and there was no road--nothing but swamps and bush and rocky hills.

With our untrained cattle it took us three days to travel the first twelve miles, though after that things went somewhat better.

It may be asked, why did I not send on? But whom could I send when no one knew the way, except the woman, Jeel, whom I feared to part with lest I should see her no more? Moreover, what was the use of sending, since the messengers could take no help? If everyone at the camp was dead, as rumour told us--well, they were dead. And if they lived, the hope was that they might live a little longer. Meanwhile, I dared not part with my guide, nor dared I leave the relief wagons to go on with her alone. If I did so, I knew that I should never see them again, since only the prestige of their being owned by a white man who was not a Portuguese prevented the natives from looting them.

It was a truly awful journey. My first idea had been to follow the banks of the Crocodile River, which is what I should have attempted had I not chanced on the woman, Jeel. Lucky was it that I did not do so, since I found afterwards that this river wound about a great deal and was joined by impassable tributaries. Also it was bordered by forests.

Jeel's track, on the contrary, followed an old slave road that, bad as it was, avoided the swampy places of the surrounding country, and those native tribes which the experience of generations of the traders in this iniquitous traffic showed to be most dangerous.

Nine days of fearful struggle had gone by. We had camped one night below the crest of a long slope strewn with great rocks, many of which we were obliged to roll out of the path by main force in order to make a way for the wagons. The oxen had to lie in their yokes all night, since we dared not let them loose fearing lest they should stray; also lions were roaring in the distance, although, game being plentiful, these did not come near to us. As soon as there was any light we let out the teams to fill themselves on the tussocky grass that grew about, and meanwhile cooked and ate some food.

Presently the sun rose, and I saw that beneath us was a great stretch of plain covered with mist, and to the north, on our right, several denser billows of mist that marked the course of the Crocodile River.

By degrees this mist lifted, tall tops of trees appearing above it, till at length it thinned into vapour that vanished away as the sun rose. As I watched it idly, the woman, Jeel, crept up to me in her furtive fashion, touched me on the shoulder and pointed to a distant group of trees.

Looking closely at these trees, I saw between them what at first I took for some white rocks. Further examination, as the mist cleared, suggested to my mind, however, that they might be wagon tilts. Just then the Zulu who understood Jeel's talk came up. I asked him as well as I could, for at that time my knowledge of his tongue was very imperfect, what she wished to say. He questioned her, and answered that she desired to tell me that those were the moving houses of the Amaboona (the Boer people), just where she had seen them nearly two moons ago.

At this tidings my heart seemed to stand still, so that for more than a minute I could not speak. There were the wagons at last, but--oh! who and what should I find in them? I called Hans and bade him inspan as quickly as possible, explaining to him that yonder was Marais's camp.

"Why not let the oxen fill themselves first, baas?" he answered. "There is no hurry, for though the wagons are there, no doubt all the people are dead long ago."

"Do what I bid you, you ill-omened beast," I said, "instead of croaking of death like a crow. And listen: I am going to walk forward to that camp; you must follow with the wagons as fast as they can travel."

"No, baas, it is not safe that you should go alone. Kaffirs or wild beasts might take you."

"Safe or not, I am going; but if you think it wise, tell two of those Zulus to come with me."

A few minutes later I was on the road, followed by the two Kaffirs armed with spears. In my youth I was a good runner, being strong of leg and light in body, but I do not think that I ever covered seven miles, for that was about the distance to the camp, in quicker time than I did that morning. Indeed, I left those active Kaffirs so far behind that when I approached the trees they were not in sight. Here I dropped to a walk, as I said to myself--to get my breath. Really it was because I felt so terrified at what I might find that I delayed the discovery just for one minute more. While I approached, hope, however faint, still remained; when I arrived, hope might be replaced by everlasting despair.

Now I could see that there were some shanties built behind the wagons, doubtless those "rude houses" of which Marie had written. But I could not see anyone moving about them, or any cattle or any smoke, or other sign of life. Nor could I hear a single sound.

Doubtless, thought I to myself, Hans is right. They are all long dead.

My agony of suspense was replaced by an icy calm. At length I knew the worst. It was finished--I had striven in vain. I walked through the outlying trees and between two of the wagons. One of these I noticed, as we do notice things at such times, was the same in which Marais had trekked with his daughter, his favourite wagon that once I had helped to fit with a new dissel-boom.

Before me were the rough houses built of the branches of trees, daubed over with mud, or rather the backs of them, for they faced west. I stood still for a moment, and as I stood thought that I heard a faint sound as of someone reciting slowly. I crept along the end of the outermost house and, rubbing the cold sweat from my eyes, peeped round the corner, for it occurred to me that savages might be in possession.

同类推荐
  • Against Apion

    Against Apion

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉皇赦罪锡福宝忏

    玉皇赦罪锡福宝忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编人事典感叹部

    明伦汇编人事典感叹部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Of the Origin of Government

    Of the Origin of Government

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 笑堂和尚语录

    笑堂和尚语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 失仙岛

    失仙岛

    黑水的尽头,一只孤零零的小船穿过翻滚的积云,船尾的篙橹架着盏绿光的琉璃灯,船头站了个姑娘,一手持剑,一手攥着被划破脖颈的青鸟,鲜血渗进船板的缝隙,四面八方涌来阵阵低吟:还我骨头……
  • 失眠自我康复全书

    失眠自我康复全书

    睡眠是每人每天都必须的。大多数人一生中的睡眠时间超过生命的1/3。但是近年来,由于现代人生活压力的加大,各种疾病的侵袭等因素,导致现代人失眠的比例越来越高,严重危害身体健康,影响生活质量。本书从失眠的各种成因着手,详细叙述了各种原因导致的失眠的病理性、生理性、心理性因素,并且对症下药,对每种失眠症都给出了详细的治疗和日常护理方法,从衣、食、住、行等方面,结合中西医对于失眠症共同的观点和治疗手段为人们彻底规避了失眠的隐忧。本书介绍了大量实用的保健手法、辅助睡眠的运动方式和食疗餐单,改善失眠效果良好,并且简单易操作,对于那些饱受痛苦的失眠症患者,本书不失为一本“解救失眠患者的宝典”。
  • 酒浑居秘事

    酒浑居秘事

    祝天启十岁那年跟他大伯学活,在运河码头摆小食摊,经营火烧老豆腐。三扇门板一字排开,两丈长的小食摊前整日座无虚席。白洋布支起的棚顶遮了阳光和尘土,花边檐上拓着四个斗大的墨字:“祝记豆腐”。食摊一端摆着两口生铁大锅,热气腾腾,案上排列着七红八绿九碗十八盘佐食配料,祝家豆腐摊,火!小天启挎个火烧篮子围食摊转,给食客递火烧,一溜小跑,慢了,食客拍案子,大伯叫骂。天启他大伯有本事,是天启他爹这辈人中最有成色的一个。
  • 海贼之海军雷神

    海贼之海军雷神

    新书《海贼世界的死灵法师》已上传,大家有空来看看啊!沙雕大树又忘了完本不能发新章节通知了!…………千帆竞发、波澜壮阔的大海贼时代,一名来自地球的少年吃下了响雷果实,成为了一名海军。正义与邪恶的碰撞自由与暴政的对立思想的浪潮永不停息……但这一切……“关我屁事!!”顶上战争,于十万人围观中,罗恩手持雷戟,虎步狼行,一步步靠近黑胡子:“人的梦想是不会结束的?或许吧……但你的梦想,将在此终结!”狭路相逢、唯有成王败寇!想谈梦想?先打赢我再说!Ps:果实开发路线,无系统。Ps兔:新书上路,依旧简介无力,请诸位多多包涵。Ps3:书友群【8、3、4、6、5、1、2、4、3】
  • 快穿之今天有好戏看么

    快穿之今天有好戏看么

    萧清一直都是那副事不关己高高挂起的表情,弱小时,强大时,从未变过。炮灰逆袭,虐渣斗反派,虽然还算有趣,但在她眼里,还不如看看风景,吃吃喝喝,吃瓜看戏。换一种逼格高一点的方式形容,就是倚楼听风雨,淡看江湖路。为了在任何情况下都能安全的看热闹,她的强者之心坚不可摧!ps:无cp文,女主自力更生 【书友群:820627432】咳,装作很正经的样子~
  • 毒婚

    毒婚

    “喂,您好这里是沈家平先生的办公室…”电话中传来女子特有的细腻之声。季凝握住电话的手有些抖:“请转告沈家平今天是他和我结婚三周年纪念日,希望他忙完之后回家一趟。”“好的,沈太太。”电话被挂下。一小时,五小时,十二小时…“您拨打的电话在通话中…”“您拨打的电话已关机…”*“家平,给我买这个好不好…”季凝看着前面说是正在忙的丈夫,轻轻扯起唇角,还真是忙啊…拔掉戒指,扔在垃圾桶里。千万不要爱上不爱你的男人!!*“地震啦……季凝,季凝快跑……”季凝听见声音,瞬间眼前的高线变成平地,她不能拒绝大自然,也不会拒绝,看着成片的房子倒塌,她的世界豁然明亮,清晰。沈家平,祝你幸福!她闭上双眼,微笑着……***“沈秘书……夫人住的地方发生八级地震……”黑暗中的男人怎么也抑制不住那种眩晕的感觉,他紧抓着椅背的手条条青筋爆现,他想站起来,却发现太难了。他狼狈的推开椅子冲了出去,膝盖狠狠撞在椅子上,头脑中闪过一片一片的火丝,脚下一滑狠狠摔在地上,血液顺着心口全部流了出去。站在那片废墟之上,他的心被挖空,到处是红和黑的交缠,眼底里只有血的红,他站在哪里,讥讽的看着眼前的茫茫大地。“季凝……”我一定会找到你,就算你死了,我也要找回你。生死不离。***视频:&pstyle=1虐文!虐恋情深!虐心,虐肝,虐脾。虐肺!进坑请谨慎!!本文配乐:伊莲****推荐自己的完结文:囄婚:推荐大神鹦鹉晒月超级美文:
  • 2013中国思想随笔排行榜

    2013中国思想随笔排行榜

    思想随笔一记,是散文的一个分支,是议论文的一个变体,兼有议论和抒情两种特性,通常篇幅短小,形式多样,写作者惯常用各种修辞手法曲折传达自己的见解和情感,语言灵动。
  • 七品人

    七品人

    话说人分七品,一品礼,二品乐,三品儒,四品诗,五品道,六品圣,七品仙,传说中只要人修炼到七品境界后,就可以呼风唤雨,超脱生死,更能飞天遁地,拥有惊天泣地的无上圣通,所以七品仙人一直是大陆上品人修炼的目标,一直是大陆上人民崇拜的对象。本文讲诉一个不久于世是少年,带着种种神秘,崛起于世,他的身上到底隐藏着什么秘密,他的身上到底背负着什么,另类的题材,敬请收看,绝对让大家一饱眼福。
  • 超凡卡神

    超凡卡神

    星卡与造物的诡秘中,谁能成就非凡?万千种族、大争之世,又是谁在鼓弄亿万生灵?我从地球而来,睁眼看见这个世界:星卡、诡术、暗影之力,魔药、封印、机械造物.....光明不会迟到,神秘从不远离,且看一个被核辐射影响而不死的少年如何踏上一条非凡之路!“毒液”,只是他的一种形态!
  • 漫威中的上古卷轴

    漫威中的上古卷轴

    奇幻类新书《寒冬已至》,喜欢的读者可以去支持一下。