the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第13节
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seen it from a great distance； but I have never been there。 We are much
afraid of the lions； for this is their country； and they are angry that man has
come to live here。
〃Far away there；〃 and she pointed toward the south…west； 〃is the land
of tigers； which is even worse than this； the land of the lions； for the tigers
are more numerous than the lions and hungrier for human flesh。 There
were tigers here long ago； but both the lions and the men set upon them
and drove them off。〃
〃Where did these savage beasts come from？〃 I asked。
〃Oh；〃 she replied； 〃they have been here always。 It is their country。〃
〃Do they not kill and eat your people？〃 I asked。
〃Often； when we meet them by accident； and we are too few to slay
them； or when one goes too close to their camp。 But seldom do they hunt
us； for they find what food they need among the deer and wild cattle； and；
too； we make them gifts； for are we not intruders in their country？ Really
we live upon good terms with them； though I should not care to meet one
were there not many spears in my party。〃
〃I should like to visit this Camp of the Lions；〃 I said。
〃Oh； no； you must not！〃 cried the girl。 〃That would be terrible。
They would eat you。〃 For a moment； then； she seemed lost in thought；
but presently she turned upon me with： 〃You must go now； for any minute
Buckingham may come in search of me。 Long since should they have
learned that I am gone from the campthey watch over me very closely
and they will set out after me。 Go！ I shall wait here until they come in
search of me。〃
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〃No；〃 I told her。 〃I'll not leave you alone in a land infested by lions
and other wild beasts。 If you won't let me go as far as your camp with
you； then I'll wait here until they come in search of you。〃
〃Please go！〃 she begged。 〃You have saved me； and I would save you；
but nothing will save you if Buckingham gets his hands on you。 He is a
bad man。 He wishes to have me for his woman so that he may be king。
He would kill anyone who befriended me； for fear that I might become
another's。〃
〃Didn't you say that Buckingham is already the king？〃 I asked。
〃He is。 He took my mother for his woman after he had killed Wettin。
But my mother will die soonshe is very oldand then the man to whom I
belong will become king。〃
Finally； after much questioning； I got the thing through my head。 It
appears that the line of descent is through the women。 A man is merely
head of his wife's familythat is all。 If she chances to be the oldest
female member of the 〃royal〃 house； he is king。 Very naively the girl
explained that there was seldom any doubt as to whom a child's mother
was。
This accounted for the girl's importance in the community and for
Buckingham's anxiety to claim her； though she told me that she did not
wish to become his woman； for he was a bad man and would make a bad
king。 But he was powerful； and there was no other man who dared
dispute his wishes。
〃Why not come with me；〃 I suggested； 〃if you do not wish to become
Buckingham's？〃
〃Where would you take me？〃 she asked。
Where； indeed！ I had not thought of that。 But before I could reply
to her question she shook her head and said； 〃No； I cannot leave my
people。 I must stay and do my best； even if Buckingham gets me； but
you must go at once。 Do not wait until it is too late。 The lions have had
no offering for a long time； and Buckingham would seize upon the first
stranger as a gift to them。〃
I did not perfectly understand what she meant； and was about to ask
her when a heavy body leaped upon me from behind； and great arms
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encircled my neck。 I struggled to free myself and turn upon my
antagonist； but in another instant I was overwhelmed by a half dozen
powerful； half…naked men； while a score of others surrounded me； a couple
of whom seized the girl。
I fought as best I could for my liberty and for hers； but the weight of
numbers was too great； though I had the satisfaction at least of giving
them a good fight。
When they had overpowered me； and I stood； my hands bound behind
me； at the girl's side； she gazed commiseratingly at me。
〃It is too bad that you did not do as I bid you；〃 she said； 〃for now it has
happened just as I fearedBuckingham has you。〃
〃Which is Buckingham？〃 I asked。
〃I am Buckingham；〃 growled a burly； unwashed brute； swaggering
truculently before me。 〃And who are you who would have stolen my
woman？〃
The girl spoke up then and tried to explain that I had not stolen her；
but on the contrary I had saved her from the men from the 〃Elephant
Country〃 who were carrying her away。
Buckingham only sneered at her explanation； and a moment later gave
the command that started us all off toward the west。 We marched for a
matter of an hour or so； coming at last to a collection of rude huts；
fashioned from branches of trees covered with skins and grasses and
sometimes plastered with mud。 All about the camp they had erected a
wall of saplings pointed at the tops and fire hardened。
This palisade was a protection against both man and beasts； and within
it dwelt upward of two thousand persons； the shelters being built very
close together； and sometimes partially underground； like deep trenches；
with the poles and hides above merely as protection from the sun and rain。
The older part of the camp consisted almost wholly of trenches； as
though this had been the original form of dwellings which was slowly
giving way to the drier and airier surface domiciles。 In these trench
habitations I saw a survival of the military trenches which formed so
famous a part of the operation of the warring nations during the twentieth
century。
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The women wore a single light deerskin about their hips； for it was
summer； and quite warm。 The men； too； were clothed in a single garment；
usually the pelt of some beast of prey。 The hair of both men and women
was confined by a rawhide thong passing about the forehead and tied
behind。 In this leathern band were stuck feathers； flowers； or the tails of
small mammals。 All wore necklaces of the teeth or claws of wild beasts；
and there were numerous metal wristlets and anklets among them。
They wore； in fact； every indication of a most primitive peoplea race
which had not yet risen to the heights of agriculture or even the possession
of domestic animals。 They were huntersthe lowest plane in the evolution
of the human race of which science takes cognizance。
And yet as I looked at their well shaped heads； their handsome features；
and their intelligent eyes； it was difficult to believe that I was not among
my own。 It was only when I took into consideration their mode of living；
their scant apparel； the lack of every least luxury among them； that I was
forced to admit that they were； in truth； but ignorant savages。
Buckingham had relieved me of my weapons； though he had not the
slightest idea of their purpose or uses； and when we reached the camp he
exhibited both me and my arms with every indication of pride in this great
capture。
The inhabitants flocked around me； examining my clothing； and
exclaiming in wonderment at each new discovery of button； buckle；
pocket； and flap。 It seemed incredible that such a thing could be； almost
within a stone's throw of the spot where but a brief two centuries before
had stood the greatest city of the world。
They bound me to a small tree that grew in the middle of one of their
croo
