第 120 节
作者:巴乔的中场      更新:2021-02-20 18:13      字数:9322
  As usual; I was concealed by a large ant…hill; behind which; my two boys
  Saat and Bellaal squatted with my spare guns。 About 100 yards before me;
  in a slight hollow; the grass was quite green; as the depression had
  until lately held water。 This rank herbage would of course stop the fire
  upon its arrival from the sloping hill…face。 About forty yards from me
  the grass was high and dry。
  About half an hour after the guns were posted we heard the whistles; and
  shortly after; the smoke rose in various places until at last a crescent
  of fire spread over the hill。 The wind was very light; therefore the
  fire travelled slowly; and the game advanced at an easy pace。 I now
  heard shots upon my left at the extreme flank; where I had posted a few
  of the best shots of the 〃Forty Thieves;〃 including Ferritch Ajoke。
  I saw the game breaking covert in herds of several hundreds in that
  direction。 Presently Abd…el…Kader had a shot upon my right; and I
  observed several antelopes bounding along upon the clear space in our
  rear。
  I was not in luck; but I now saw a splendid buck leucotis walking
  quietly through the grass; and slowly descending the slope to the green
  hollow; which would bring him straight towards me should he keep this
  direction。
  Just at that moment I saw a long yellow tail rise suddenly from the
  green hollow; and an instant later I saw a fine lion; with tail erect;
  that had evidently been disturbed by the advancing fire。
  The lion was down wind of the buck leucotis; which was now close to the
  unseen enemy; and was just descending the bank which dipped into the
  green hollow: this would bring the antelope almost upon the lion's back。
  The two animals suddenly appeared to touch each other as the leucotis
  jumped down the bank; and the lion sprang to one side; apparently as
  much startled as the antelope; which bounded off in another direction;。
  The lion now disappeared in the high grass; with the head towards my
  position。
  I whispered to my boys not to be afraid should it appear close to us;
  and at the same time I took the spare gun from; Bellal; and laid it
  against the ant…hill to be in readiness。 This was a breechloader; with
  buckshot cartridges for small antelopes。
  In a few minutes I heard a distinct rustling in the high grass before
  me。 The two boys were squatting on the ground to my right。
  Presently a louder rustling in the grass; within forty yards in my
  front; was followed by the head and shoulders of a large lioness; who
  apparently saw the two boys; and with her brilliant eyes fixed; she
  advanced slowly towards them。
  Not wishing to allow a closer acquaintance; I aimed at her chest; and
  fired the 〃Dutchman。〃
  The lioness rolled completely over; backwards; and three times she
  turned convulsive somersaults; at the same time roaring tremendously;
  but to my astonishment she appeared to recover; and I immediately fired
  my left…hand barrel。 At this she charged in high bounds straight towards
  my two boys。
  I had just time to snatch up my spare gun and show myself from behind
  the ant…hill; when the lioness; startled by my sudden appearance;
  turned; and I fired a charge of buck…shot into her hind…quarters as she
  disappeared in the high grass upon my right。
  I now heard her groaning in a succession of deep guttural sounds; within
  fifty yards of me。
  In a few minutes I heard a shot from Abd…el…Kader; and he shortly came
  to tell me that the wounded lioness; with her chest and shoulder covered
  with blood; had come close to his hiding…place; he had fired; and had
  broken her ankle joint; but she was still concealed in the grass。
  Shooli and Gimoro now came up with some of the natives; as they had
  heard the lioness roar; and feared some accident might have happened。
  These were very plucky fellows; and they at once proposed to go close up
  and spear her in the grass; if I would back them up with the rifles。
  We arrived at the supposed spot; and after a search we distinguished a
  yellowish mass within some withered reeds。
  Shooli now proposed that he should throw his spear; upon which the
  lioness would certainly charge from her covert and afford us a good
  shot; if the guns were properly arranged。
  I would not allow this; but I determined to fire a shot at the yellow
  mass to bring her out; if every one would be ready to receive her。
  Lieutenant Baker was on my right; with a double…barrelled express rifle
  that carried a No。 70 bullet。 This minute projectile was of little use
  against the charge of a lion。
  I fired into the mass at about twenty yards' distance。
  The immediate reply was a determined charge; and the enraged animal came
  bounding towards us with tremendous roars。 The natives threw their
  spears but missed her。 Mr。 Baker fired; but neither he nor a left…hand
  barrel from the 〃Dutchman〃 could check her。 Everybody had to run; and I
  luckily snatched a breechloading No。 12 smooth…bore loaded with ball
  from a panic…stricken lad; and rolled her over with a shot in the chest
  when she was nearly in the midst of us。
  She retreated with two or three bounds to her original covert。
  I had now reloaded the 〃Dutchman;〃 and having given orders that every
  one should keep out of the way; and be ready; I went close up to the
  grass with Shooli; and quickly discovered her。 She was sitting up like a
  dog; but was looking in the opposite direction; as though expecting an
  enemy in that quarter。
  I was within twelve yards of her; and I immediately put a bullet in the
  back of her neck; which dropped her dead。
  In her inside we discovered a freshly…eaten leucotis calf; which had
  been simply divided by her teeth in lumps of about two pounds each。 This
  was quite fresh; and my soldiers and the natives divided it among them
  as a bonne…bouche。 Nasty fellows!
  The day's sport had been:One lioness killed by myself; one leucotis
  buck by Mr。 Baker; one leucotis buck by Abd…el…Kader; two does of the
  same species by Ferritch Ajoke; and the natives had speared three
  calves。 Total; one lioness and seven antelopes; ALL of which were to be
  eaten。
  We reached home at 5。40 p。m。; not having had time to eat anything since
  the preceding evening。 The lioness measured nine feet six inches from
  nose to tail extremity。
  As this work is simply an account of the principal events connected with
  the Khedive's expedition; I cannot afford space for many sporting
  incidents。 Game was very abundant; and we generally kept the station
  well supplied; at the same time I gave large quantities of flesh to the
  natives。
  I sometimes sent a party of my 〃Forty〃 to hunt; in which sport they took
  a great interest; and the practice with the rifle improved their
  shooting。
  The natives throughout the country were perfectly happy and contented;
  but the women had been somewhat disturbed by the accounts they had
  received of our encounter with the lioness。 They held a meeting in
  Gimoro's village。
  On the following day both Gimoro and Shooli arrived at my public divan
  looking rather dejected。
  They informed me that the women; having held a meeting; had arrived at
  the conclusion; 〃that the Pacha must not be allowed to go out hunting;
  as he might possibly be killed by a lion or a buffalo。〃 〃What would
  happen to us?〃 continued the women; 〃if any accident should befall our
  father? Would not the slave…hunters immediately return to the country
  and destroy us; simply because he had protected us? Do we not now sleep
  in peace? and were we not always awake at night before he came among
  us?〃
  The women decided that I was to be kept in the camp as a cojoor or
  talisman; and that the natives were not to lead me into danger of wild
  animals。
  This declaration of the ladies of Fatiko could hardly be called
  PETTICOAT government; as their total independence of attire precluded
  any reference to such a garment; but it was a distinct assertion of
  women's right to protect the person who had protected them。 They were
  excellent people; and were always well cared for and kindly treated by
  the men。
  My fort at Fatiko was within call of two large villagesthose of Gimoro
  and the sheik of the country: during my sojourn of seven months; I never
  heard a woman scream; neither was there any domestic or civil
  disturbance。
  There were no police required in that country; there was no pickpockets;
  as there were no pockets to pickwhich was one advantage in favour of
  nudity。 A London police magistrate would have died of ennui; the
  constables could not even have sworn to a case of intoxication; merely
  as a matter of form to afford employment。 There were no immoral females
  to disgrace the public streets; neither were there any beggars;
  vagrants; organ…grinders; or perambulators to worry; deafen; or upset
  you。 My country was a picture of true harmony。 We had no complex
  machinery of law; there was no such difficulty as an estate in Chancery;
  no Divorce Court; or cases of crim。 con。 that necessitated an appeal。
  Adultery would be settled by flogging respondent and co…respondent; with
  a judicial separation after the punishment。
  I had no ecclesiastical difficulties; no High Church; Ritualists; Low
  Church; Broad Churchmen; Philosophers; Wesleyans; Baptists;
  Presbyterians; Roman Catholics; Episc