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