stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第7节
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down with the lion； like the lamb of prophecy； but I suppose the reeds
were thick； and that it kept a long way off。
〃Well； I let the rietbok go； and it went like the wind； and kept my eyes
fixed upon the reeds。 The fire was burning like a furnace now； the flames
crackling and roaring as they bit into the reeds； sending spouts of fire
twenty feet and more into the air； and making the hot air dance above it in
a way that was perfectly dazzling。 But the reeds were still half green； and
created an enormous quantity of smoke； which came rolling toward me
like a curtain； lying very low on account of the wind。 Presently； above the
crackling of the fire； I heard a startled roar； then another and another。 So
the lions were at home。
〃I was beginning to get excited now； for； as you fellows know； there is
nothing in experience to warm up your nerves like a lion at close quarters；
unless it is a wounded buffalo； and I got still more so when I made out
through the smoke that the lions were all moving about on the extreme
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edge of the reeds。 Occasionally they would pop their heads out like rabbits
from a burrow； and then； catching sight of me standing about fifty yards
out； draw them back again。 I knew that it must be getting pretty warm
behind them； and that they could not keep the game up for long； and I was
not mistaken； for suddenly all four of them broke cover together； the old
black…maned lion leading by a few yards。 I never saw a more splendid
sight in all my hunting experience than those four lions bounding across
the veldt； overshadowed by the dense pall of smoke and backed by the
fiery furnace of the burning reeds。
〃I reckoned that they would pass； on their road to the bushy kloof；
within about five and twenty yards of me； so； taking a long breath； I got
my gun well on to the lion's shoulderthe black…maned oneso as to allow
for an inch or two of motion； and catch him through the heart。 I was on；
dead on； and my finger was just beginning to tighten on the trigger； when
suddenly I went blinda bit of reed…ash had drifted into my right eye。 I
danced and rubbed； and succeeded in clearing it more or less just in time
to see the tail of the last lion vanishing round the bushes up the kloof。
〃If ever a man was mad I was that man。 It was too bad； and such a shot
in the open； too！ However； I was not going to be beaten； so I just turned
and marched for the kloof。 Tom； the driver； begged and implored me not to
go； but though as a general rule I never pretend to be very brave （which I
am not）； I was determined that I would either kill those lions or they
should kill me。 So I told Tom that he need not come unless he liked； but I
was going； and being a plucky fellow； a Swazi by birth； he shrugged his
shoulders； muttered that I was mad or bewitched； and followed doggedly
in my tracks。
〃We soon got to the kloof； which was about three hundred yards in
length and but sparsely wooded； and then the real fun began。 There might
be a lion behind every bushthere certainly were four lions somewhere；
the delicate question was； where。 I peeped and poked and looked in every
possible direction； with my heart in my mouth； and was at last rewarded
by catching a glimpse of something yellow moving behind a bush。 At the
same moment； from another bush opposite me out burst one of the cubs
and galloped back toward the burned…out pan。 I whipped round and let
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drive a snap…shot that tipped him head over heels； breaking his back within
two inches of the root of the tail； and there he lay helpless but glaring。
Tom afterward killed him with his assegai。 I opened the breech of the gun
and hurriedly pulled out the old case； which； to judge from what ensued；
must； I suppose； have burst and left a portion of its fabric sticking to the
barrel。 At any rate； when I tried to get in the new case it would only enter
half… way； andwould you believe it？this was the moment that the
lioness； attracted no doubt by the outcry of her cub； chose to put in an
appearance。 There she stood； twenty paces or so from me； lashing her tail
and looking just as wicked as it is possible to conceive。 Slowly I stepped
backward； trying to push in the new case； and as I did so she moved on in
little runs； dropping down after each run。 The danger was imminent； and
the case would not go in。 At the moment I oddly enough thought of the
cartridge…maker； whose name I will not mention； and earnestly hoped that
if the lion got me some condign punishment would overtake him。 It would
not go in； so I tried to pull it out。 It would not come out either； and my gun
was useless if I could not shut it to use the other barrel。 I might as well
have had no gun。 Meanwhile I was walking backward； keeping my eye on
the lioness； who was creeping forward on her belly without a sound； but
lashing her tail and keeping her eye on me； and in it I saw that she was
coming in a few seconds more。 I dashed my wrist and the palm of my
hand against the brass rim of the cartridge till the blood poured from them…
…look； there are the scars of it to this day！〃
Here Quatermain held up his right hand to the light and showed us
four or five white cicatrices just where the wrist is set into the hand。
〃But it was not of the slightest use；〃 he went on； 〃the cartridge would
not move。 I only hope that no other man will ever be put in such an awful
position。 The lioness gathered herself together； and I gave myself up for
lost； when suddenly Tom shouted out from somewhere in my rear：
〃'You are walking on to the wounded cub； turn to the right。'
〃I had the sense； dazed as I was； to take the hint； and slewing round at
right angles； but still keeping my eyes on the lioness； I continued my
backward walk。
〃To my intense relief； with a low growl she straightened herself； turned；
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and bounded off farther up the kloof。
〃'Come on； inkoos；' said Tom； 'let's get back to the waggon。'
〃'All right； Tom；' I answered。 'I will when I have killed those three
other lions；' for by this time I was bent on shooting them as I never
remember being bent on anything before or since。 'You can go if you like；
or you can get up a tree。'
〃He considered the position a little； and then he very wisely got up a
tree。 I wish that I had done the same。
〃Meanwhile I had found my knife； which had an extractor in it； and
succeeded after some difficulty in hauling out the case which had so
nearly been the cause of my death； and removing the obstruction in the
barrel。 It was very little thicker than a postage…stamp； certainly not thicker
than a piece of writing…paper。 This done； I loaded the gun； bound a
handkerchief round my wrist and hand to staunch the flowing of the blood；
and started on again。
〃I had noticed that the lioness went into a thick green bush； or rather
cluster of bushes； growing near the water； for there was a little stream
running down the kloof； about fifty yards higher up and for this I made。
When I got there； however； I could see nothing； so I took up a big stone
and threw it into the bushes。 I believe that it hit the other cub； for out it
came with a rush； giving me a broadside shot； of which I promptly availed
myself； knocking it over dead。 Out； too； came the lioness like a flash of
light； but quick as she went I managed to put the other bullet into her ribs；
so that she rolled right over three times like a shot rabbit。 I instantly got
two more cartridges into the gun； and as I did so the lioness rose again and
came crawling toward me on her fore paws； roaring and groaning； and
with such an expression of diabolical fury on her countenance as I have
not often seen。 I shot her again through the chest； and she fell over on to
her side quite dead。
〃That was the first and last time that I ever killed a brace of lions right
and left； and； what is more； I never heard
