benita-第15部分

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filled　with　buildings　that　now　were　half　hidden　by　grass；　trees；　and

creepers。　This　was　the　outer　ring　of　the　temple　where；　in　ancient

days；　the　priests　and　captains　had　their　home。　Travelling　across　it

for　perhaps　a　hundred　and　fifty　yards；　they　came　near　the　second　wall；

which　was　like　the　first；　only　not　quite　so　solid；　and　saw　that　on　a

stretch　of　beaten　ground；　and　seated　in　the　shadow；　for　the　day　was

hot；　the　people　of　Bambatse　were　gathered　to　greet　them。



When　within　fifty　yards　they　dismounted　from　the　horses；　which　were

left　with　the　waggon　in　the　charge　of　the　Makalanga；　Tamala。　Then

Benita　taking　her　position　between　her　father　and　Jacob　Meyer；　they

advanced　towards　the　ring　of　natives；　of　whom　there　may　have　been　two

hundredall　of　them　adult　men。



As　they　came；　except　one　figure　who　remained　seated　with　his　back

against　the　wall；　the　human　circle　stood　up　as　a　token　of　respect；　and

Benita　saw　that　they　were　of　the　same　stamp　as　the　messengerstall

and　good…looking；　with　melancholy　eyes　and　a　cowed　expression；　wearing

the　appearance　of　people　who　from　day　to　day　live　in　dread　of　slavery

and　death。　Opposite　to　them　was　a　break　in　the　circle；　through　which

Tamas　led　them；　and　as　they　crossed　it　Benita　felt　that　all　those

people　were　staring　at　her　with　their　sad　eyes。　A　few　paces　from　where

the　man　crouched　against　the　wall；　his　head　hidden　by　a　beautifully

worked　blanket　that　was　thrown　over　it；　were　placed　three　well…carved

stools。　Upon　these；　at　a　motion　from　Tamas；　they　sat　themselves　down；

and；　as　it　was　not　dignified　for　them　to　speak　first；　remained　silent。



〃Be　patient　and　forgive；〃　said　Tamas　at　length。　〃My　father；　Mambo；

prays　to　the　Munwali　and　the　spirits　of　his　fathers　that　this　coming

of　yours　may　be　fortunate；　and　that　a　vision　of　those　things　that　are

to　be　may　descend　upon　him。〃



Benita；　feeling　nearly　two　hundred　pairs　of　eyes　concentrated　upon

her；　wished　that　the　vision　might　come　quickly；　but　after　a　minute　or

two　fell　into　tune　with　the　thing；　and　almost　enjoyed　this　strange

experience。　Those　mighty　ancient　walls　built　by　hands　unknown；　which

had　seen　so　much　history　and　so　much　death；　the　silent；　triple　ring　of

patient；　solemn　men；　the　last　descendants　of　a　cultured　race；　the

crouching　figure　hidden　beneath　the　blanket；　who　imagined　himself　to

be　communicating　with　his　godit　was　all　very　strange；　very　well

worth　the　seeing　to　one　who　had　wearied　of　the　monotony　of

civilization。



Look；　the　man　stirred；　and　threw　back　his　blanket；　revealing　a　head

white　with　age；　a　spiritual；　ascetic　face；　so　thin　that　every　bone

showed　in　it；　and　dark　eyes　which　stared　upwards　unseeingly；　like

those　of　a　person　in　a　trance。　Thrice　he　sighed；　while　his　tribesmen

watched　him。　Then　he　let　his　eyes　fall　upon　the　three　white　people

seated　in　front　of　him。　First　he　looked　at　Mr。　Clifford；　and　his　face

grew　troubled；　then　at　Jacob　Meyer；　and　it　was　anxious　and　alarmed。

Lastly；　he　stared　at　Benita；　and　while　he　did　so　the　dark　eyes　became

calm　and　happy。



〃White　maiden；〃　he　said　in　a　soft；　low　voice；　〃for　you；　at　least；　I

have　good　tidings。　Though　Death　come　near　to　you；　though　you　see　him

on　your　right　hand　and　your　left；　and　in　front　of　you　and　behind　you；

I　say；　fear　not。　Here　you；　who　have　known　deep　sorrow；　shall　find

happiness　and　rest；　O　maiden；　with　whom　goes　the　spirit　of　one　pure

and　fair　as　you；　who　died　so　long　ago。〃



Then；　while　Benita　wondered　at　his　words；　spoken　with　such　sweet

earnestness　that　although　she　believed　nothing　of　them；　they　brought　a

kind　of　comfort　to　her；　he　looked　once　more　at　her　father　and　Jacob

Meyer；　and；　as　it　were　with　an　effort；　was　silent。



〃Have　you　no　pleasant　prophecy　for　me；　old　friend；〃　said　Jacob；　〃who

have　come　so　far　to　hear　it？〃



At　once　the　aged　face　grew　inscrutable；　all　expression　vanished　behind

a　hundred　wrinkles；　and　he　answered：



〃None；　white　mannone　that　I　am　charged　to　deliver。　Search　the　skies

for　yourself；　you　who　are　so　wise；　and　read　them　if　you　can。　Lords；〃

he　went　on　in　another　voice；　〃I　greet　you　in　the　name　and　presence　of

my　children。　Son　Tamas；　I　greet　you　also；　you　have　done　your　mission

well。　Listen；　nowyou　are　weary　and　would　rest　and　eat；　still；　bear

with　me；　for　I　have　a　word　to　say。　Look　around　you。　You　see　all　my

tribe；　not　twenty　times　ten　above　the　age　of　boys；　we　who　once　were

countless　as　the　leaves　on　yonder　trees　in　spring。　Why　are　we　dead？

Because　of　the　Amandabele；　those　fierce　dogs　whom；　two　generations

ago；　Moselikatse；　the　general　of　Chaka；　brought　up　to　the　south　of　us；

who　ravish　us　and　kill　us　year　by　year。



〃We　are　not　warlike；　we　who　have　outlived　war　and　the　lust　of　slaying。

We　are　men　of　peace；　who　desire　to　cultivate　the　land；　and　to　follow

our　arts　which　have　descended　to　us　from　our　ancestors；　and　to　worship

the　Heavens　above　us；　whither　we　depart　to　join　the　spirits　of　our

forefathers。　But　they　are　fierce　and　strong　and　savage；　and　they　come

up　and　murder　our　children　and　old　people；　and　take　away　the　young

women　and　the　maidens　to　be　slaves；　and　with　them　all　our　cattle。

Where　are　our　cattle？　Lobengula；　chief　of　the　Amandabele；　has　them；

scarce　a　cow　is　left　to　give　milk　to　the　sick　or　to　the　motherless

babe。　And　yet　he　sends　for　cattle。　Tribute；　say　his　messengers；

deliver　tribute；　or　my　impi　will　come　and　take　it　with　your　lives。　But

we　have　no　cattleall　are　gone。　We　have　nothing　left　to　us　but　this

ancient　mountain　and　the　works　built　thereon；　and　a　little　corn　on

which　we　live。　Yes；　I　say　itI；　the　MolimoI　whose　ancestors　were

great　kingsI　who　have　still　more　wisdom　in　me　than　all　the　hosts　of

the　Amandabele；〃　and　as　he　spoke　the　old　man's　grey　head　sank　upon　his

breast　and　the　tears　ran　down　his　withered　cheeks；　while　his　people

answered：



〃Mambo；　it　is　true。〃



〃Now　listen　again；〃　he　went　on。　〃Lobengula　threatens　us；　therefore　I

sent　to　these　white　men　who　were　here　before；　saying　that　if　they

would　bring　me　a　hundred　guns；　and　powder　and　ball；　to　enable　us　to

beat　off　the　Amandabele　from　behind　these　strong　walls　of　ours；　I

would　take　them　into　the　secret　holy　place　where　for　six　generations

no　white　man　has　set　a　foot；　and　there　suffer　them　to　search　for　the

treasure　which　is　hid　therein；　no　man　knows　where；　that　treasure　which

they　asked　leave　to　find　four　winters　gone。　We　refused　it　then　and

drove　them　hence；　because　of　the　curse　laid　upon　us　by　the　white　maid

who　died；　the　last　of　the　Portuguese；　who　foretold　her　people's　fate

for　us　if　we　gave　up　the　buried　gold　save　to　one　appointed。　My

children；　the　Spirit　of　Bambatse　has　visited　me；　I　have　seen　her　and

others　have　seen　her；　and　in　my　sleep　she　said　to　me：　'Suffer　the　men

to　come　and　search；　for　with　them　is　one　of　the　blood　to　whom　my

people's　wealth　is　given；　and　great　is　your　danger；　for　many　spears

draw　nigh。'　My　children；　I　sent　my　son　and　other　messengers　on　a　far

journey　to　where　I　knew　the　men　dwelt；　and　they　have　returned　after

many　months　bringing　those　men　with　them；　bringing　with　them　also

another　of　whom　I　knew　nothingyes；　her　who　is　appointed；　her　of　whom

the　Spirit　spoke。〃



Then　he　lifted　his　withered　hand　and　held　it　towards　Benita；　saying：

〃I　tell　you　that　yonder　she　sits　for　whom　the　generations　have

waited。〃



〃It　is　so；〃　answered　the　Makalanga。　〃It　is　the　White　Lady　come　again

to　take　her　own。〃



〃Friends；〃　asked　the　Molimo；　while　they　wondered　at　his　strange

speech；　〃tell　me；　have　you　brought　the　guns？〃



〃Surely；〃　answered　Mr。　Clifford；　〃they　are　there　in　the　waggon；　every

one　of　them；　the　best　that　can　be　made；　and　with　them　ten　thousand

cartridges；　bought　at　a　great　cost。　We　have　fulfilled　our　share　of　the

bargain；　now　will　you　fulfil　yours；　or　shall　we　go　away　again　with　the

guns　and　leave　you　to　meet　the　Matabele　with　your　assegais？〃



〃Say　you　the　agreement　while　we　listen；〃　answered　the　Molimo。



〃Good；〃　said　Mr。　Clifford。　〃It　is　this：　That　you　shall　find　us　food

and　shelter　while　we　are　with　you。　That　you　shall　lead　us　into　the

secret　place　at　the　head　of　the　hill；　where　the　Portuguese　died；　and

the　gold　is　hidden。　That　you　shall　allow　us　to　search　for　that　gold

when　and　where　we　will。　That　if　we　discover　the　gold；　or　anything　else

of　value　to　us；　you　shall　suffer　us　to　take　it　away；　and　assist　us

upon　our　journey；　either　by　giving　us　boats　and　manning　them　to　travel

down　the　Zambesi；　or　in　whatever　fashion　may　be　most　easy。　That　you

shall　permit　none　to　hurt；　molest；　or　annoy　us　during　our　sojourn

among　you。　Is　that　our　contract？〃



〃Not　quite　all　of　it；〃　said　the　Molimo。　〃There　is　this　to　add：　first

that　you　shall　teach　us　how　to　use　the　guns；　secondly；　that　you　shall

search　for　and　find　the　treasure；　if　so　it　is　appointed；　without　our

help；　since　in　this　matter　it　is　not　lawful　for　us　to　meddle；　thirdly；

that　if　the　Amandabele　should　chance　to　attack　us　while　you　are　here；

you　shall　do　your　best　to　assist　us　against　their　power。〃



〃Do　you；　then；　expect　attack？〃　asked　Meyer　suspiciously。



〃White　man；　we　always　expect　attack。　Is　it　a　bargain？〃



〃Yes；〃　answered　Mr。　Clifford　and　Jacob　Meyer　in　one　voice；　the　latter

adding：　〃the　guns　and　the　cartridges　are　yours。　Lead　us　now　to　the

hidden　place。　We　have　fulfilled　our　part；　we　trust　to　the　honour　of

you　and　all　your　people　to　fulfil　yours。〃



〃White　Maiden；〃　asked　the　Molimo；　addressing　Benita；　〃do　you　also　say

that　it　is　a　bargain？〃



〃What　my　father　says；　I　say。〃



〃Good；〃　said　the　Molimo。　〃Then；　in　the　presence　of　my　people；　and　in

the　name　of　the　Munwali；　I；　Mambo；　who　am　his　prophet；　declare　that　it

is　so　agreed　between　us；　and　may　the　vengeance　of　the　heavens　fall

upon　those　who　break　our　pact！　Let　the　oxen　of　the　white　men　be

outspanned；　their　horses　fed；　their　waggon　unloaded；　that　we　may　count

the　guns。　Let　food　be　brought　into　the　guest…house　also；　and　after

they　ha