登陆注册
5697500000029

第29章 SOLOMON'S ROAD(6)

"Let not good magic be wasted on our poor bodies,"said one,"we are satisfied.All the witchcraft of our people cannot show the like of this.""It is so,"remarked the old gentleman,in a tone of intense relief;"without any doubt it is so.Listen,children of the stars,children of the shining eye and the movable teeth,who roar out in thunder and slay from afar.I am Infadoos,son of Kafa,once king of the Kukuana people.

This youth is Scragga."

"He nearly scragged me,"murmured Good.

"Scragga,son of Twala,the great king -Twala,husband of a thousand wives,chief and lord paramount of the Kukuanas,keeper of the great road,terror of his enemies,student of the Black Arts,leader of an hundred thousand warriors;Twala the One-eyed,the Black,the Terrible.""So,"said I,superciliously,"lead us then to Twala.We do not talk with low people and underlings.""It is well,my lords,we will lead you,but the way is long.

We are hunting three days'journey from the place of the king.But let my lords have patience,and we will lead them?

"It is well,"I said,carelessly,"all time is before us,for we do not die.We are ready;lead on.But Infadoos,and thou,Scragga,beware!Play us no tricks,make for us no snares,for before your brains of mud have thought of them we shall know them and avenge them.The light from the transparent eye of him with the bare legs and the half-haired face (Good)shall destroy you,and go through your land;his vanishing teeth shall fix themselves fast in you and eat you up,you and your wives and children;the magic tubes shall talk with you loudly,and make you as sieves.Beware!"This magnificent address did not fail of its effect;indeed,it was hardly needed,so deeply were our friends already impressed with our powers.

The old man made a deep obeisance,and murmured the word "Koom,koom,"which I afterwards discovered was their royal salute,corresponding to the Bayete of the Zulus,and,turning,addressed his followers.These at once proceeded to lay hold of all our goods and chattels,in order to bear them for us,excepting only the guns,which they would on no account touch.They even seized Good's clothes,which were,as the reader may remember,neatly folded up beside him.

He at once made a dive for them,and a loud altercation ensued.

"Let not my lord of the transparent eye and the melting teeth touch them,"said the old man."Surely his slaves shall carry the things.""But I want to put 'em on!"roared Good,in nervous English.

Umbopa translated.

"Nay,my lord."put in Infadoos,"would my lord cover up his beautiful white legs (although he was so dark Good had a singularly white skin)from the eyes of his servants?Have we offended my lord that he should do such a thing?"Here I nearly exploded with laughing;and meanwhile,one of the men started on with the garments.

"Damn it!"roared Good,"that black villain has got my trousers.""Look here,Good,"said Sir Henry,"you have appeared in this country in a certain character,and you must live up to it.It will never do for you to put on trousers again.Henceforth you must live in a flannel shirt,a pair of boots,and an eye-glass.""Yes,"I said,"and with whiskers on one side of your face and not on the other.If you change any of these things they will think that we are impostors.I am very sorry for you,but,seriously,you must do it.If once they begin to suspect us,our lives will not be worth a brass farthing.""Do you really think so?"said Good,gloomily.

"I do,indeed.Your `beautiful white legs'and your eye-glass are now the feature of our party,and,as Sir Henry says,you must live up to them.Be thankful that you have got your boots on,and that the air is warm."Good sighed,and said no more,but it took him a fortnight to get accustomed to his attire.

同类推荐
  • 科利奥兰纳斯

    科利奥兰纳斯

    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。
  • The Titan

    The Titan

    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。
  • 修真十书黄庭外景玉经注卷

    修真十书黄庭外景玉经注卷

    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。
  • 终南家业

    终南家业

    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。
  • 兵要望江南

    兵要望江南

    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
  • 捏你跟玩似的

    捏你跟玩似的

    这件事情的结局是孩儿终于牵走了自称是他的驴。尽管孩儿的爹很不情愿把好端端的钱白搭在一条什么球用也没有的驴身上,而赵驴儿更不情愿他用来混饭的工具就这么随随便便改姓了别人的姓,但是他们最终谁也没有拗过比他们更拗的孩儿。当这个拗蛋筋的孩儿兴高采烈地骑着毛驴回家去的时候,谁也不怀疑这孩儿长大以后将变成这样一个人——只要他认定是自己的东西,别人休想碰一碰。
  • 寂寞笙歌凉

    寂寞笙歌凉

    她的一生,就如失去自由的旋转木马。似乎所有的下一站都是终点,也都是原点,寒来暑往,晨昏更叠,总也转不出命运安排好的苦难。
  • 教你学单杠·双杠

    教你学单杠·双杠

    本套图书全部根据具体内容进行相应分章且归类排列,具有很强的可读性、操作性和知识性,是青少年学习田径与体操的最佳读物。
  • 大秦游戏攻略

    大秦游戏攻略

    亲爱的玩家,欢迎来到《大秦》您可以根据自身资产状况自由选择想要加入的阵营。千古一帝,名臣良将,至圣先师,蛮族之王,十凶九瑞【系统禁选】可选阵营:一级势力:【要求一万积分】百家弟子大秦兵卒二级势力:【要求一百积分】六国叛逆北地蛮兵域外国度三级势力:【要求一积分】域外凶兽海上人族四级势力:【无积分要求】随机流民注意:一积分兑换十万软妹币。······秦舞阳瞟了一眼账户余额,叹了口气,躺在床板上点了一支烟。氪金还是氪命,这是一个问题。【作者小扑街,考据党,合理党轻点儿喷,手动感谢。】
  • 一池碧水

    一池碧水

    《一池碧水》是一本让人好奇的书,作者不急不躁,娓娓道来,写着独特的生活。作者以花草游鱼为伴,以植物为伴,以日月星辰为伴,拥它们入怀,给与了它们无穷无尽的爱,深情地和它们融入了一体,人与自然相处得是那样有声有色,十分感动人。
  • 饥饿游戏3:嘲笑鸟

    饥饿游戏3:嘲笑鸟

    在“饥饿游戏”系列结篇里,伊夫狄恩·凯特尼斯——燃烧的女孩,她的家乡十二区被无情摧毁。打猎伙伴盖尔逃离了虎口,成为了一名勇敢的战士,“恋人”皮塔被凯匹特抓走。传说中的十三区真的存在,那里出现了反抗和新的领导者,革命的序幕正在缓缓拉开……
  • 玄和子十二月卦金诀

    玄和子十二月卦金诀

    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。
  • 愁城纪

    愁城纪

    愁城纪由十个城市的爱情故事组成,分别发生在十个不同的背景下十个动人的故事。香港的离愁,北京的无奈,深圳的铭心刻骨或者济南的苍凉。这是一本关于空间和情感的小说集,不同的城市下空,上演着差不多的爱与恨。有的爱很茫然,有的爱很无奈,但是爱总是支撑希望的根本,那些纠缠的情节,在扑朔迷离的文字下,显得异常地动人,这本小说集,将带着我们穿越城市的界限,共同感受爱情的真味。
  • 美女总裁的最强高手

    美女总裁的最强高手

    【断骨新书《都市至尊狂婿》求支持!】他有绝世功夫,大少公子统统踩在脚下!他有逆天医术,死人都能救活!他还有一双超级神眼,战斗,催眠,样样行!粉丝群:677382696vip群:647949669
  • 王牌炼丹师:师兄,宠不停

    王牌炼丹师:师兄,宠不停

    作为浮屠山的一名小弟子,墨青黛表示,成仙有什么好?天天渡劫,过不了就要魂飞魄散......还不如是个元婴境,享有无尽年华。但是,这世道......连混吃等死都行不通!某师尊:青黛啊,我命不久矣,虽然你只是个普普通通的双灵根,但是还是有盼头的。你可要专心修炼啊!某同窗:青黛,青黛,有人要害我,你快保护我!呜呜......。某仙:青黛,你为何......如此惫懒?某人:哈哈哈,本大爷就是要欺负你!谁让你打不过本大爷?某妖:小青青,快到本尊碗里来~~。青黛:“我还是去修炼吧......。”