登陆注册
5697500000001

第1章 I MEET SIR HENRY CURTIS(1)

IT is a curious thing that at my age -fifty-five last birthday -I should find myself taking up a pen to try and write a history.I wonder what sort of a history it will be when I have done it,if I ever come to the end of the trip!I have done a good many things in my life,which seems a long one to me,owing to my having begun so young,perhaps.At an age when other boys are at school I was earning my living as a trader in the old Colony.

I have been trading,hunting,fighting,or mining ever since.And yet it is only eight months ago that I made my pile.It is a big pile now I have got it -I don't yet know how big -but I don't think I would go through the last fifteen or sixteen months again for it;no,not if I knew that I should come out safe at the end,pile and all.But then,I am a timid man,and don't like violence,and am pretty sick of adventure.I wonder why I am going to write this book;it is not in my line.I am not a literary man,though very devoted to the Old Testament and also to the "Ingoldsby Legends."Let me try and set down my reasons,just to see if I have any.

First reason:Because Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good asked me to.

Second reason:Because I am laid up here at Durban with the pain and trouble in my left leg.Ever since that confounded lion got hold of me I have been liable to it,and its being rather bad just now makes me limp more than ever.There must be some poison in a lion's teeth,otherwise how is it that when your wounds are healed they break out again,generally,mark you,at the same time of year that you got your mauling?It is a hard thing that when one has shot sixty-five lions,as I have in the course of my life,that the sixty-sixth should chew your leg like a quid of tobacco.

It breaks the routine of the thing,and,putting other considerations aside,I am an orderly man and don't like that.This is by the way.

Third reason:Because I want my boy Harry,who is over there at the hospital in London studying to become a doctor,to have something to amuse him and keep him out of mischief for a week or so.Hospital work must sometimes pall and get rather dull,for even of cutting-up dead bodies there must come satiety,and as this history won't be dull,whatever else it may be,it may put a little life into things for a day or two while he is reading it.

Fourth reason and last:Because I am going to tell the strangest story that I know of.It may seem a queer thing to say that,especially considering that there is no woman in it except Foulata.Stop,though!

there is Gagaoola,if she was a woman and not a fiend.But she was a hundred at least,and therefore not marriageable,so I don't count her.At any rate,I can safely say that there is not a petticoat in the whole history.Well,I had better come to the yoke.It's a stiff place,and Ifeel as though I were bogged up to the axle.But "sutjes,sutjes,"as the Boers say (I'm sure I don't know how they spell it),softly does it.Astrong team will come through at last,that is if they ain't too poor.

You will never do anything with poor oxen.Now,to begin.

I,Allan Quatermain,of Durban,Natal,Gentleman,make oath and say -That's how I began my deposition before the magistrate about poor Khiva's and Ventvo"gel's sad deaths;but somehow it doesn't seem quite the right way to begin a book.And,besides,am I a gentleman?What is a gentleman?I don't quite know,and yet I have had to do with niggers -no,I'll scratch that word "niggers"out,for I don't like it.I've known natives who are ,and so you'll say,Harry,my boy,before you're done with this tale,and I have known mean whites with lots of money and fresh out from home,too,who ain't .Well,at any rate I was born a gentleman,though I've been nothing but a poor travelling trader and hunter all my life.Whether I have remained so I know not;you must judge of that.Heaven knows I've tried.I've killed many men in my time,but I have never slain wantonly or stained my hand in innocent blood,only in self-defence.The Almighty gave us our lives,and I suppose he meant us to defend them;at least I have always acted on that,and I hope it won't be brought up against me when my clock strikes.There,there;it is a cruel and a wicked world,and,for a timid man,I have been mixed up in a deal of slaughter.I can't tell the rights of it,but at any rate I have never stolen,though I once cheated a Kaffir out of a herd of cattle.

But then,he had done me a dirty turn,and it has troubled me ever since into the bargain.

Well,it's eighteen months or so ago since I first met Sir Henry Curtis and Captain Good,and it was in this way.I had been up elephant hunting beyond Bamangwato,and had had bad luck.Everything went wrong that trip,and to top up with I got the fever badly.So soon as I was well enough I trekked down to the Diamond Fields,sold such ivory as I had,and also my wagon and oxen,discharged my hunters,and took the post-cart to the Cape.After spending a week in Cape Town,finding that they overcharged me at the hotel,and having seen everything there was to see,including the botanical gardens,which seem to me likely to confer a great benefit on the country,and the new Houses of Parliament,which I expect will do nothing of the sort,I determined to go on back to Natal by the Dunkeld ,then lying in the docks waiting for the Edinburgh Castle due in from England.I took my berth and went aboard,and that afternoon the Natal passengers from the Edinburgh Castle transhipped,and we weighed anchor and put out to sea.

Among the passengers who came on board there were two who excited my curiosity.One,a man of about thirty,was one of the biggest-chested and longest-armed men I ever saw.He had yellow hair,a big yellow beard,clear-cut features,and large gray eyes set deep into his head.I never saw a finer-looking man,and somehow he reminded me of an ancient Dane.

同类推荐
  • 温公日记

    温公日记

    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。
  • Reprinted Pieces

    Reprinted Pieces

    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。
  • On the Soul

    On the Soul

    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。
  • 阿弥陀经义记

    阿弥陀经义记

    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。
  • 重刻宝王三昧念佛直指

    重刻宝王三昧念佛直指

    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
  • 第三十三个黑夜

    第三十三个黑夜

    我一连在立交桥上等了三十二个晚上。第三十三个夜晚。就在立交桥华灯初放的一瞬间,我终于发现了他。宛如横空平悬的蛛网,立交桥在夜幕下抽出根根银丝,从左到右,从上到下,交织着、缠结着、环绕着、盘旋着,几条粗大的丝干猛然冲出网阵,闪烁着伸向四面八方。在快速车道通向人行道的缓梯路口,他走下了出租车,回头望了望,缓缓向桥下花园走去。心中翻出一股恨的狂潮,也泛起丝丝点点怯的感觉。
  • 吉祥小皇后

    吉祥小皇后

    推荐文文:单飞鸟《姑妻狠妖魅》┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍┍本文原名叫《半路天使》不料却发现与某位作者笔名相同,虽然还没人指出,但雪格拉不想哪天被别人说借名了,所以雪格拉把名字改成了《吉祥小皇后》希望各们亲们能继续支持本文!谢谢!无厘头介绍:天使?毕业典礼一醉之后她竟然成了半个天使?没搞错吧?翘辫子就翘辫子嘛!说得那么‘高尚’什么?搞错人了?为什么死了还不能死透透啊?顶着别人的身体‘寄生’过日子也就算了,为什么还是个深宫‘怨妇’?即是后宫最大的,也是后宫最小的?还是个差点——不,是已经被毒死的皇后。55。。。。。。她一个听起来十岁,看起来只有七八岁的小皇后打得过谁啊?所以。。。。。。她决定要到宫外潇洒了!юююююююююююююююююююююююююююююююююююююююююююю他——炎弘野律,一国之君,基于儿时,小皇后对以礼相待——拉了一堆屎在他身上,他就觉得看见她就等于看见屎,所以他与她就是皇不见皇,能不见就不见。但自她被毒未‘驾崩’后,人就变得不一样了。以前她爱跟前跟后,现在——“大叔,没事就别烦我,我很忙。”以前她爱夜晚偷袭,想成为他真正的皇后,现在——“大叔,大夜晚的,该睡的就回去睡,敢偷袭我,你就死定了”以前。。。。。。现在。。。。。。总归一句话,皇上开始爱皇后了,是非曲直就是这么来的。只是为什么她还是守护神?得凤得天下?那他是要保她?还是保国?☆☆☆☆☆他——汤允聪,汤家堡堡主,兼职,天下第一名捕,一个嘻皮笑脸的笑脸虎。可自从他遇见‘天使小皇后’之后,他就深觉天下第一名捕之名不保,恐怕要让贤了,原因无它,因为案子那他还没头绪,她就破案了。555。。。。。。他要丢饭碗了!“笨蛋!”某小孩鄙视道,小案一件,他琢磨太久了。“是,我笨蛋,有本事你来啊!”“我来就我来,输的人怎么办?”某小孩算计着。“输的人任宰!”某汤叫嚣道,他就不信凭他那丰富的经验能输给她。“好!一言为定,小马难追!”“为什么是小马?”某汤不明地问。“输了还跑——那是小人,而小人——马不追,即然都不追了,当然就难追了!”什么?简直是歪理,但是。。。。。。不可否认,好像歪得也挺有道理的。
  • 在园杂志

    在园杂志

    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。
  • 嫡谋盛嫁

    嫡谋盛嫁

    前世她木夕颜受尽折磨而死,一朝重生,却成了纳兰府的三姑娘,杀子仇人的庶妹。还被赐婚给了神秘莫测的誉王,成了誉王妃,前世情人的皇婶!夕颜只觉得天雷滚滚,这………可………当真是孽缘!夕颜本想搅得纳兰府鸡飞狗跳,结果一个不小心竟让纳兰府断子绝了孙!说好的神秘莫测?说好的清冷高贵?说好的冷酷腹黑?谁来告诉她这么大一只醋坛子是怎么会事?某日某醋王笑得一脸邪魅:“兮儿,这是要趁着为夫不在要爬墙吗?还要爬本王侄子的墙?”某兮:“……”
  • 风把悲伤扬起在灰色的秋天

    风把悲伤扬起在灰色的秋天

    一次意外,她含冤入狱,五年青春就此浪费重新归来,整个世界都抛弃了她,犹如一粒尘埃,随风而去。但她从不曾忘了,她叫叶明明,明天的明。不轻言放弃,含泪奔跑,誓要为自己的人生画上一笔色彩。向往的无比神圣的舞台蒙上了灰,前所未有的迷茫袭卷而来,她叶明明,在现实的漩涡中挣扎。“你相信这个世界很美好吗?”“我信,我无一刻停息的相信着!”………………后来,明天的明,变成了没有明天的明。
  • 穿越时空的仙人掌花

    穿越时空的仙人掌花

    早餐时候,我和建平照例一人一份报纸。他看英文报,我看华文的。两个埋头的人,在各自不同的兴趣里,努力不辍地做自己的每日功课。他为生意,看国际新闻和财经版;我和其他小女人一样,只关注娱乐版。自认年年25岁的谭校长歌星谭咏麟,在老父去世后,按照父亲的遗嘱,公开他的家庭秘密。孝顺的谭校长将老父的葬礼处理妥当后,亲自跑到香港电台参加《开心日报》节目。
  • 狂妃嚣张掳获帝王心

    狂妃嚣张掳获帝王心

    这年头,做什么事都能穿越,好好蹦个极也能穿越了。穿就穿吧,为什么要我穿过去压死了皇帝的秀女呢。那个皇帝也真是小气,明明有那么多的秀女却非要我赔,不然就会杀死我。为了保住小命,我硬着头皮答应了他。哪知道一失足成千古恨啊,他竟然要我给他侍寝…
  • 超神攻略系统

    超神攻略系统

    一觉醒来,李志的脑海中多了一个自称为了响应万千女神而存在的系统……“叮,发布任务:帮助苏楠楠获得冠军”“任务成功,苏楠楠好感+10,获得150积分。”“任务失败:在电视观众面前跳一段完整的社会摇!”李志:“mmp!”
  • 反派攻略:末世复仇计划

    反派攻略:末世复仇计划

    或许只有复仇的念想,才能让我有一点活着的妄念吧。——伍寒薇被亲生姐姐以及友人迫害,从地狱深渊里爬出的她,成了人族最不屑的叛徒,身处尸皇的身边为丧尸效力。昔日的恋人,温和的学长,腼腆的龙族少年,双面的尸皇。早已没了爱的权力的她,在这昏暗无光的末世里,该如何抉择…
  • 南岳九真人传

    南岳九真人传

    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。