第1章

CHAPTERI

THEINTERESTONTENSHILLINGS

MostofyouwillhaveheardthatAllanQuatermain，whowasoneofthepartythatdiscoveredKingSolomon’sminessomelittletimeago，andwhoafterwardscametoliveinEnglandnearhisfriendSirHenryCurtis。Hewentbacktothewildernessagain，astheseoldhuntersalmostinvariablydo，ononepretextoranother。[*]Theycannotendurecivilizationforverylong，itsnoiseandracketandtheomnipresenceofbroad—clothedhumanityprovingmoretryingtotheirnervesthanthedangersofthedesert。Ithinkthattheyfeellonelyhere，foritisafactthatistoolittleunderstood，thoughithasoftenbeenstated，thatthereisnolonelinesslikethelonelinessofcrowds，especiallytothosewhoareunaccustomedtothem。"Whatisthereintheworld，"

oldQuatermainwouldsay，"sodesolateastostandinthestreetsofagreatcityandlistentothefootstepsfalling，falling，multitudinousastherain，andwatchthewhitelineoffacesastheyhurrypast，youknownotwhence，youknownotwhither？Theycomeandgo，theireyesmeetyourswithacoldstare，foramomenttheirfeaturesarewrittenonyourmind，andthentheyaregoneforever。Youwillneverseethemagain；theywillneverseeyouagain；theycomeupoutoftheunknown，andpresentlytheyoncemorevanishintotheunknown，takingtheirsecretswiththem。Yes，thatislonelinesspureandundefiled；buttoonewhoknowsandlovesit，thewildernessisnotlonely，becausethespiritofnatureisevertheretokeepthewanderercompany。Hefindscompanionsinthewinds——thesunnystreamsbabblelikeNature’schildrenathisfeet；highabovethem，inthepurplesunset，aredomesandminaretsandpalaces，suchasnomortalmanhasbuilt，inandoutofwhoseflamingdoorstheangelsofthesunseemtomovecontinually。

Andthere，too，isthewildgame，followingitsfeeding—groundsingreatarmies，withthespringbuckthrownoutbeforeforskirmishers；

thenrankuponrankoflong—facedblesbuck，marchingandwheelinglikeinfantry；andlasttheshiningtroopsofquagga，andthefierce—eyedshaggyvilderbeestetotake，asitwere，theplaceofthecossackhostthathangsuponanarmy’sflanks。

[*]ThisofcoursewaswrittenbeforeMr。Quatermain’saccountoftheadventuresinthenewly—discoveredcountryofZu—Vendisofhimself，SirHenryCurtis，andCapt。JohnGoodhadbeenreceivedinEngland。——Editor。

"Oh，no，"hewouldsay，"thewildernessisnotlonely，for，myboy，rememberthatthefurtheryougetfromman，theneareryougrowtoGod，"andthoughthisisasayingthatmightwellbedisputed，itisoneIamsurethatanybodywilleasilyunderstandwhohaswatchedthesunriseandsetonthelimitlessdesertedplains，andseenthethunderchariotsofthecloudsrollinmajestyacrossthedepthsofunfathomablesky。

Well，atanyratewewentbackagain，andnowformanymonthsIhaveheardnothingatallofhim，andtobefrank，Igreatlydoubtifanybodywilleverhearofhimagain。Ifearthatthewilderness，thathasforsomanyyearsbeenamothertohim，willnowalsoprovehisgraveandthegraveofthosewhoaccompaniedhim，forthequestuponwhichheandtheyhavestartedisawildoneindeed。

ButwhilehewasinEnglandforthosethreeyearsorsobetweenhisreturnfromthesuccessfuldiscoveryofthewiseking’sburiedtreasures，andthedeathofhisonlyson，IsawagreatdealofoldAllanQuatermain。IhadknownhimyearsbeforeinAfrica，andafterhecamehome，wheneverIhadnothingbettertodo，IusedtorunuptoYorkshireandstaywithhim，andinthiswayIatonetimeandanotherheardmanyoftheincidentsofhispastlife，andmostcurioussomeofthemwere。Nomancanpassallthoseyearsfollowingtheroughexistenceofanelephant—hunterwithoutmeetingwithmanystrangeadventures，andinonewayandanotheroldQuatermainhascertainlyseenhisshare。Well，thestorythatIamgoingtotellyouinthefollowingpagesisoneofthelateroftheseadventures，thoughI

forgettheexactyearinwhichithappened。atanyrateIknowthatitwastheonlytripuponwhichhetookhissonHarry（whoissincedead）

withhim，andthatHarrywasthenaboutfourteen。Andnowforthestory，whichIwillrepeat，asnearlyasIcan，inthewordsinwhichHunterQuatermaintoldittomeonenightintheoldoak—panelledvestibuleofhishouseinYorkshire。Weweretalkingaboutgold—

mining——

"Gold—mining！"hebrokein；"ah！yes，Ioncewentgold—miningatPilgrims’RestintheTransvaal，anditwasafterthatthatwehadthebusinessaboutJim—Jimandthelions。DoyouknowPilgrim’sRest？

Well，itis，orwas，oneofthequeerestlittleplacesyoueversaw。

Thetownitselfwaspitchedinastonyvalley，withmountainsallaboutit，andinthemiddleofsuchsceneryasonedoesnotoftengetthechanceofseeing。ManyandmanyisthetimethatIhavethrowndownmypickandshovelindisgust，clamberedoutofmyclaim，andwalkedacoupleofmilesorsotothetopofsomehill。ThenIwouldliedowninthegrassandlookoutoverthegloriousstretchofcountry——thesmilingvalleys，thegreatmountainstouchedwithgold——

realgoldofthesunset，andclothedinsweepingrobesofbush，andstareintothedepthsoftheperfectskyabove；yes，andthankHeavenIhadgotawayfromthecursingandthecoarsejokesoftheminers，andthevoicesofthoseBasutuKaffirsastheytoiledinthesun，thememoryofwhichiswithmeyet。

"Well，forsomemonthsIdugawaypatientlyatmyclaim，tilltheverysightofapickorofawashing—troughbecamehatefultome。AhundredtimesadayIlamentedmyownfollyinhavinginvestedeighthundredpounds，whichwasaboutallthatIwasworthatthetime，inthisgold—mining。Butlikeotherbetterpeoplebeforeme，Ihadbeenbittenbythegoldbug，andnowwasforcedtotaketheconsequences。Iboughtaclaimoutofwhichamanhadmadeafortune——fiveorsixthousandpoundsatleast——asIthought，verycheap；thatis，Igavehimfivehundredpoundsdownforit。ItwasallthatIhadmadebyaveryroughyear’selephant—huntingbeyondtheZambesi，andIsigheddeeplyandpropheticallywhenIsawmysuccessfulfriend，whowasaYankee，sweepuptherollofStandardBanknoteswiththelordlyairofthemanwhohasmadehisfortune，andcramthemintohisbreechespockets。’Well，’

Isaidtohim——thehappyvendor——’itisamagnificentproperty，andI

onlyhopethatmyluckwillbeasgoodasyourshasbeen。’

"Hesmiled；tomyexcitednervesitseemedthathesmiledominously，asheansweredmeinapeculiarYankeedrawl：’Iguess，stranger，asI

ain’ttheonetomakeamanquarrelwithhisfood，moreespecialwhenthereain’tnomoregoingoftherounds；andasforthatthereclaim，well，she’sbeenagoodniggertome；butbetweenyouandme，stranger，speakingmantoman，nowthatthereain’tanyfilthylucrebetweenustoobscurethefeaturesofthetruth，Iguessshe’saboutworkedout！’

"Igasped；thefellow’seffronterytookthebreathoutofme。Onlyfiveminutesbeforehehadbeenswearingbyallhisgods——andtheyappearedtobenumerousandmixed——thattherewerehalfadozenfortunesleftintheclaim，andthathewasonlygivingitupbecausehewasdownrightwearyofshovellingthegoldout。

"’Don’tlooksovexed，stranger，’wentonmytormentor，’perhapsthereissomeshineintheoldgirlyet；anywayyouareadownrightgoodfellow，youare，thereforeyouwill，Iguess，havearealA1

opportunityofworkingonthefeelingsofFortune。Anywayitwillbringthemuscleupuponyourarm，forthestuffisuncommonstiff，and，whatismore，youwillinthecourseofayearearnasightmorethantwothousanddollarsinvalueofexperience。’

"Thenhewentjustintime，forinanothermomentIshouldhavegoneforhim，andIsawhisfacenomore。

"Well，IsettoworkontheoldclaimwithmyboyHarryandhalfadozenKaffirstohelpme，which，seeingthatIhadputnearlyallmyworldlywealthintoit，wastheleastthatIcoulddo。Andweworked，myword，wedidwork——earlyandlatewewentatit——butneverabitofgolddidwesee；no，notevenanuggetlargeenoughtomakeascarf—

pinoutof。TheAmericangentlemanhadsecureditallandleftusthesweepings。

"Forthreemonthsthiswenton，tillatlastIhadpaidawayall，orverynearall，thatwasleftofherlittlecapitalinwagesandfoodfortheKaffirsandourselves。WhenItellyouthatBoermealwassometimesashighasfourpoundsabag，youwillunderstandthatitdidnottakelongtorunthroughourbankingaccount。

"Atlastthecrisiscame。OneSaturdaynightIhadpaidthemenasusual，andboughtamuidofmealiemealatsixtyshillingsforthemtofillthemselveswith，andthenIwentwithmyboyHarryandsatontheedgeofthegreatholethatwehadduginthehill—side，andwhichwehadinbittermockerynamedEldorado。Therewesatinthemoonlightwithourfeetovertheedgeoftheclaim，andweremelancholyenoughforanything。PresentlyIpulledoutmypurseandemptieditscontentsintomyhand。Therewasahalf—sovereign，twoflorins，ninepenceinsilver，nocoppers——forcopperpracticallydoesnotcirculateinSouthAfrica，whichisoneofthethingsthatmakelivingsodearthere——inallexactlyfourteenandninepence。

"’There，Harry，myboy！’Isaid，’thatisthesumtotalofourworldlywealth；thatholehasswallowedalltherest。’

"’ByGeorge！’saidMasterHarry；’Isay，father，youandIshallhavetoletourselvesouttoworkwiththeKaffirsandliveonmealiepap，’

andhesniggeredathisunpleasantlittlejoke。

"ButIwasinnomoodforjoking，foritisnotamerrythingtodiglikeanythingformonthsandbecompletelyruinedintheprocess，especiallyifyouhappentodislikedigging，andconsequentlyI

resentedHarry’slight—heartedness。

"’Bequiet，boy！’Isaid，raisingmyhandasthoughtogivehimacuff，withtheresultthatthehalf—sovereignslippedoutofitandfellintothegulfbelow。

"’Oh，bother，’saidI，’it’sgone。’

"’There，Dad，’saidHarry，’that’swhatcomesoflettingyourangrypassionsrise；nowwearedowntofourandnine。’

"Imadenoanswertothesewordsofwisdom，butscrambleddownthesteepsidesoftheclaim，followedbyHarry，tohuntformylittleall。Well，wehuntedandwehunted，butthemoonlightisanuncertainthingtolookforhalf—sovereignsby，andtherewassomeloosesoilabout，fortheKaffirshadknockedoffworkingatthisveryspotacoupleofhoursbefore。Itookapickandrakedawaytheclodsofearthwithit，inthehopeoffindingthecoin；butallinvain。AtlastinsheerannoyanceIstruckthesharpendofthepickaxedownintothesoil，whichwasofaveryhardnature。Tomyastonishmentitsunkinrightuptothehaft。

"’Why，Harry，’Isaid，’thisgroundmusthavebeendisturbed！’

"’Idon’tthinkso，father，’heanswered；’butwewillsoonsee，’andhebegantoshoveloutthesoilwithhishands。’Oh，’hesaidpresently，’it’sonlysomeoldstones；thepickhasgonedownbetweenthem，look！’andhebegantopullatoneofthestones。

"’Isay，Dad，’hesaidpresently，almostinawhisper，’it’spreciousheavy，feelit；’andheroseandgavemearound，brownishlumpaboutthesizeofaverylargeapple，whichhewasholdinginbothhishands。Itookitcuriouslyandheldituptothelight。It/was/veryheavy。Themoonlightfelluponitsroughandfilth—encrustedsurface，andasIlooked，curiouslittlethrillsofexcitementbegantopassthroughme。ButIcouldnotbesure。

"’Givemeyourknife，Harry，’Isaid。

"Hedidso，andrestingthebrownstoneonmykneeIscratchedatitssurface。Greatheavens，itwassoft！

"Anothersecondandthesecretwasout，wehadfoundagreatnuggetofpuregold，fourpoundsofitormore。’It’sgold，lad，’Isaid，’it’sgold，orI’maDutchman！’

"Harry，withhiseyesstartingoutofhishead，glareddownatthegleamingyellowscratchthatIhadmadeuponthevirginmetal，andthenburstoutintoyelluponyellofexultation，whichwentringingawayacrossthesilentclaimslikeshrieksofsomebodybeingmurdered。

"’Bequiet！’Isaid；’doyouwanteverythiefonthefieldsafteryou？’

"ScarcelywerethewordsoutofmymouthwhenIheardastealthyfootstepapproaching。Ipromptlyputthebignuggetdownandsatonit，anduncommonlyharditwas。AsIdidsoIsawaleandarkfacepokedovertheedgeoftheclaimandapairofbeadyeyessearchingusout。Iknewtheface，itbelongedtoamanofverybadcharacterknownasHandspikeTom，whohad，Iunderstood，beensonamedattheDiamondFieldsbecausehehadmurderedhismatewithahandspike。Hewasnownodoubtprowlingaboutlikeahumanhy？natoseewhathecouldsteal。

"’Isthatyou，’unterQuatermain？’hesaid。

"’Yes，it’sI，Mr。Tom，’Ianswered，politely。

"’Andwhatmightallthatthereyellingbe？’heasked。’Iwaswalkingalong，a—takingoftheeveningairanda—thinkingonthestars，whenI

’ears’owlafter’owl。’

"’Well，Mr。Tom，’Ianswered，’thatisnottobewonderedat，seeingthatlikeyourselftheyarenocturnalbirds。’

"’’Owlafter’owl！’herepeatedsternly，takingnonoticeofmyinterpretation，’andIstopsandsays，"That’smurder，"andIlistensagainandthinks，"No，itain’t；that’owlisthe’owlofhexultation；

someone’sbeenandgothisfingersintoagummyyellerpot，I’llswear，andgoneoff’is’eadinthesuckingofthem。"Now，’unterQuatermain，isIright？isitnuggets？Oh，lor！’andhesmackedhislipsaudibly——’greatbigyellowboys——isitthemthatyouhavejustbeenandtumbledacross？’

"’No，’Isaidboldly，’itisn’t’——thecruelgleaminhisblackeyesaltogetherovercomingmyaversiontountruth，forIknewthatifoncehefoundoutwhatitwasthatIwassittingon——andbythewayIhaveheardofrollingingoldbeingspokenofasapleasantprocess，butI

certainlydonotrecommendanybodywhovaluescomforttotrysittingonit——Ishouldrunaverygoodchanceofbeing’handspiked’beforethenightwasover。

"’Ifyouwanttoknowwhatitwas，Mr。Tom，’Iwenton，withmypolitestair，althoughinagonyfromthenuggetunderneath——forIholditisalwaysbesttobepolitetoamanwhoissoreadywithahandspike——’myboyandIhavehadaslightdifferenceofopinion，andIwasenforcingmyviewofthematteruponhim；that’sall。’

"’Yes，Mr。Tom，’putinHarry，beginningtoweep，forHarrywasasmartboy，andsawthedifficultywewerein，’thatwasit——Ihalloedbecausefatherbeatme。’

"’Well，now，didyer，mydearboy——didyer？Well，allIcansayisthataplayed—outoldclaimisawonderfulqueersortofplacetocometofortoargifyatteno’clockofnight，andwhat’smore，mysweetyouth，ifeverIshould’avetheargifyingofyer’——andheleeredunpleasantlyatHarry——’yerwon’t’ollerinquitesuchajollysort’oway。AndnowI’llbesayinggood—night，forIdon’tlikedisturbingofafamilyparty。No，Iain’tthatsortofman，Iain’t。Good—nighttoyer，’unterQuatermain——good—nighttoyer，myargifiedyoungone；’andMr。Tomturnedawaydisappointed，andprowledoffelsewhere，likeahumanjackal，toseewhathecouldthieveorkill。

"’Thankgoodness！’Isaid，asIslippedoffthelumpofgold。’Now，then，doyougetup，Harry，andseeifthatconsummatevillainhasgone。’Harrydidso，andreportedthathehadvanishedtowardsPilgrim’sRest，andthenwesettowork，andverycarefully，buttremblingwithexcitement，withourhandshollowedoutallthespaceofgroundintowhichIhadstruckthepick。Yes，asIhoped，therewasaregularnestofnuggets，twelveinall，runningfromthesizeofahazel—nuttothatofahen’segg，thoughofcoursethefirstonewasmuchlargerthanthat。Howtheyallcametherenobodycansay；itwasoneofthoseextraordinaryfreaks，withstoriesofwhich，atanyrate，allpeopleacquaintedwithalluvialgold—miningwillbefamiliar。ItturnedoutafterwardsthattheAmericanwhosoldmetheclaimhadinthesamewaymadehispile——amuchlargeronethanours，bytheway——

outofasinglepocket，andthenworkedforsixmonthswithoutseeingcolour，afterwhichhegaveitup。

"Atanyrate，therethenuggetswere，tothevalue，asitturnedoutafterwards，ofabouttwelvehundredandfiftypounds，sothatafterallItookoutofthatholefourhundredandfiftypoundsmorethanI

putintoit。Wegotthemalloutandwrappedthemupinahandkerchief，andthen，fearingtocarryhomesomuchtreasure，especiallyasweknewthatMr。HandspikeTomwasontheprowl，madeupourmindstopassthenightwherewewere——anecessitywhich，disagreeableasitwas，waswonderfullysweetenedbythepresenceofthathandkerchieffullofvirgingold——theinterestofmylosthalf—

sovereign。

"Slowlythenightworeaway，forwiththefearofHandspikeTombeforemyeyesIdidnotdaretogotosleep，andatlastthedawncame。I

gotupandwatcheditsgrowth，tillitopenedlikeaflowerupontheeasternsky，andthesunbeamsbegantospringupinsplendourfrommountain—toptomountain—top。Iwatchedit，andasIdidsoitflasheduponme，withacompleteconvictionwhichIhadnotfeltbefore，thatIhadhadenoughofgold—miningtolastmetherestofmynaturallife，andIthenandtheremadeupmymindtoclearoutofPilgrims’

RestandgoandshootbuffalotowardsDelagoaBay。ThenIturned，tookthepickandshovel，andalthoughitwasaSundaymorning，wokeupHarryandsettoworktoseeiftherewereanymorenuggetsabout。AsIexpected，therewerenone。Whatwehadgothadlaintogetherinalittlepocketfilledwithsoilthatfeltquitedifferentfromthestiffstuffroundandoutsidethepocket。Therewasnotanothertraceofgold。Ofcourseitispossiblethatthereweremorepocketfulssomewhereabout，butallIhavetosayisImadeupmymindthat，whoeverfoundthem，Ishouldnot；and，asamatteroffact，Ihavesinceheardthatthisclaimhasbeentheruinoftwoorthreepeople，asitverynearlywastheruinofme。

"’Harry，’Isaidpresently，’IamgoingawaythisweektowardsDelagoatoshootbuffalo。ShallItakeyouwithme，orsendyoudowntoDurban？’

"’Oh，takemewithyou，father！’beggedHarry，’Iwanttokillabuffalo！’

"’Andsupposingthatthebuffalokillsyouinstead？’Iasked。

"’Oh，nevermind，’hesaid，gaily，’therearelotsmorewhereIcamefrom。’

"Irebukedhimforhisflippancy，butintheendIconsentedtotakehim。

CHAPTERII

WHATWASFOUNDINTHEPOOL

"SomethingoverafortnighthadpassedsincethenightwhenIlosthalf—a—sovereignandfoundtwelvehundredandfiftypoundsinlookingforit，andinsteadofthathorridhole，forwhich，afterall，Eldoradowashardlyamisnomer，averydifferentscenestretchedawaybeforeuscladinthesilverrobeofthemoonlight。Wewerecamped——

HarryandI，twoKaffirs，aScotchcart，andsixoxen——ontheswellingsideofagreatwaveofbushcladland。Justwherewehadmadeourcamp，however，thebushwasverysparse，andonlygrewaboutinclumps，whilehereandthereweresingleflat—toppedmimosa—trees。Toourrightalittlestream，whichhadcutadeepchannelforitselfinthebosomoftheslope，flowedmusicallyonbetweenbanksgreenwithmaidenhair，wildasparagus，andmanybeautifulgrasses。Thebed—rockherewasredgranite，andinthecourseofcenturiesofpatientwashingthewaterhadhollowedoutsomeofthehugeslabsinitspathintogreattroughsandcups，andtheseweusedforbathing—places。NoRomanlady，withherbathsofporphyryoralabaster，couldhavehadamoredeliciousspottobatheherselfthanwefoundwithinfiftyyardsofourskerm，orroughinclosureofmimosathorn，thatwehaddraggedtogetherroundthecarttoprotectusfromtheattacksoflions。Thattherewereseveralofthesebrutesabout，Iknewfromtheirspoor，thoughwehadneitherheardnorseenthem。

"Ourbathwasalittlenookwheretheeddyofthestreamhadwashedawayamassofsoil，andontheedgeofittheregrewamostbeautifuloldmimosathorn。Beneaththethornwasalargesmoothslabofgranitefringedallroundwithmaidenhairandotherferns，thatslopedgentlydowntoapooloftheclearestsparklingwater，whichlayinabowlofgraniteabouttenfeetwidebyfivefeetdeepinthecentre。Heretothisslabwewenteverymorningtobathe，andthatdelightfulbathisamongthemostpleasantofmyhuntingreminiscences，asitisalso，forreasonswhichwillpresentlyappear，amongthemostpainful。

"Itwasalovelynight。HarryandIsattothewindwardofthefire，wherethetwoKaffirswerebusilyemployedincookingsomeimpalasteaksoffabuckwhichHarry，tohisgreatjoy，hadshotthatmorning，andwereasperfectlycontentedwithourselvesandtheworldatlargeastwopeoplecouldpossiblybe。Thenightwasbeautiful，anditwouldrequiresomebodywithmorewordsonthetipofhistonguethanIhavetodescribeproperlythechastenedmajestyofthosemoonlitwilds。Awayforeverandforever，awaytothemysteriousnorth，rolledthegreatbushoceanoverwhichthesilencebrooded。

TherebeneathusamileormoretotherightranthewideOliphant，andmirror—likeflashedbackthemoon，whosesilverspearswereshiveredonitsbreast，andthentossedintwistedlinesoflightfarandwideaboutthemountainsandtheplain。Downupontheriver—banksgrewgreattimber—treesthatthroughthestillnesspointedsolemnlytoHeaven，andthebeautyofthenightlayuponthemlikeacloud。

Everywherewassilence——silenceinthestarreddepths，silenceonthebosomofthesleepingearth。Now，ifever，greatthoughtsmightriseinaman’smind，andforaspacehemightforgethislittlenessinthesensethathepartookofthepureimmensityabouthim。

"’Hark！whatwasthat？’

"Fromfarawaydownbytherivertherecomesamightyrollingsound，thenanother，andanother。Itisthelionseekinghismeat。

"IsawHarryshiverandturnalittlepale。Hewasapluckyboyenough，buttheroarofalionheardforthefirsttimeinthesolemnbushveldtatnightisapttoshakethenervesofanylad。

"’Lions，myboy，’Isaid；’theyarehuntingdownbytheriverthere；

butIdon’tthinkthatyouneedmakeyourselfuneasy。Wehavebeenherethreenightsnow，andiftheyweregoingtopayusavisitI

thinkthattheywouldhavedonesobeforethis。However，wewillmakeupthefire。’

"’Here，Pharaoh，doyouandJim—Jimgetsomemorewoodbeforewegotosleep，elsethecatswillbepurringroundyoubeforemorning。’

"Pharaoh，agreatbrawnySwazi，whohadbeenworkingformeatPilgrims’Rest，laughed，rose，andstretchedhimself，thencallingtoJim—Jimtobringtheaxeandareim，startedoffinthemoonlighttowardsaclumpofsugar—bushwherewecutourfuelfromsomedeadtrees。Hewasafinefellowinhisway，wasPharaoh，andIthinkthathehadbeennamedPharaohbecausehehadanEgyptiancastofcountenanceandaroyalsortofswaggerabouthim。Buthiswaywasasomewhatpeculiarway，onaccountoftheuncertaintyofhistemper，andveryfewpeoplecouldgetonwithhim；alsoifhecouldfindliquorhewoulddrinklikeafish，andwhenhedrankhebecameshockinglybloodthirsty。Thesewerehisbadpoints；hisgoodoneswerethat，likemostpeopleoftheZulublood，hebecameexceedinglyattachedifhetooktoyouatall；hewasahard—workingandintelligentman，andaboutasdare—devilandpluckyafellowatapinchasIhaveeverhadtodowith。Hewasaboutfive—and—thirtyyearsofageorso，butnota’keshla’orringedman。IbelievethathehadgotintotroubleinsomewayinSwaziland，andtheauthoritiesofhistribewouldnotallowhimtoassumethering，andthatiswhyhecametoworkatthegold—fields。Theotherman，orratherlad，Jim—

Jim，wasaMapochKaffir，orKnobnose，andeveninthelightofsubsequenteventsIfearIcannotspeakverywellofhim。Hewasanidleandcarelessyoungrascal，andonlythatverymorningIhadtotellPharaohtogivehimabeatingforlettingtheoxenstray，whichPharaohdidwiththegreatestgusto，althoughhewasbywayofbeingveryfondofJim—Jim。Indeed，IsawhimconsolingJim—Jimafterwardswithapinchofsnufffromhisownear—box，whilstheexplainedtohimthatthenexttimeitcameinthewayofdutytofloghim，hemeanttothrashhimwiththeotherhand，soastocrosstheoldcutsandmakea"prettypattern"onhisback。

"Well，offtheywent，thoughJim—Jimdidnotatalllikeleavingthecampatthathour，evenwhenthemoonlightwassobright，andinduecoursereturnedsafelyenoughwithagreatbundleofwood。IlaughedatJim—Jim，andaskedhimifhehadseenanything，andhesaidyes，hehad；hehadseentwolargeyelloweyesstaringathimfrombehindabush，andheardsomethingsnore。

"As，however，onfurtherinvestigationtheyelloweyesandthesnoreappearedtohaveexistedonlyinJim—Jim’slivelyimagination，Iwasnotgreatlydisturbedbythisalarmingreport；buthavingseentothemaking—upofthefire，gotintotheskermandwentquietlytosleepwithHarrybymyside。

"SomehoursafterwardsIwokeupwithastart。Idon’tknowwhatwokeme。Themoonhadgonedown，oratleastwasalmosthiddenbehindthesofthorizonofbush，onlyherredrimbeingvisible。Alsoawindhadsprungupandwasdrivinglonghurryinglinesofcloudacrossthestarrysky，andaltogetheragreatchangehadcomeoverthemoodofthenight。BythelookoftheskyIjudgedthatwemustbeabouttwohoursfromday—break。

"Theoxen，whichwereasusualtiedtothedisselboomoftheScotchcart，wereveryrestless——theykeptsnufflingandblowing，andrisingupandlyingdownagain，soIatoncesuspectedthattheymustwindsomething。PresentlyIknewwhatitwasthattheywinded，forwithinfiftyyardsofusalionroared，notveryloud，butquiteloudenoughtomakemyheartcomeintomymouth。

"Pharaohwassleepingontheothersideofthecart，and，lookingbeneathit，Isawhimraisehisheadandlisten。

"’Lion，Inkoos，’hewhispered，’lion！’

"Jim—Jimalsojumpedup，andbythefaintlightIcouldseethathewasinaverygreatfrightindeed。

"Thinkingthatitwasaswelltobepreparedforemergencies，ItoldPharaohtothrowwooduponthefire，andwokeupHarry，whoIverilybelievewascapableofsleepinghappilythroughthecrackofdoom。Hewasalittlescaredatfirst，butpresentlytheexcitementofthepositioncamehometohim，andhegrewquiteanxioustoseehismajestyfacetoface。IgotmyriflehandyandgaveHarryhis——aWestleyRichardsfallingblock，whichisaveryusefulgunforayouth，beinglightandyetagoodkillingrifle，andthenwewaited。

"Foralongtimenothinghappened，andIbegantothinkthatthebestthingwecoulddowouldbetogotosleepagain，whensuddenlyIheardasoundmorelikeacoughthanaroarwithinabouttwentyyardsoftheskerm。Wealllookedout，butcouldseenothing；andthenfollowedanotherperiodofsuspense。Itwasverytryingtothenerves，thiswaitingforanattackthatmightbedevelopedfromanyquarterormightnotbedevelopedatall；andthoughIwasanoldhandatthissortofbusinessIwasanxiousaboutHarry，foritiswonderfulhowthepresenceofanybodytowhomoneisattachedunnervesamaninmomentsofdanger。Iknow，althoughitwasnowchillyenough，Icouldfeeltheperspirationrunningdownmynose，andinordertorelievethestrainonmyattentionemployedmyselfinwatchingabeetlewhichappearedtobeattractedbythefirelight，andwassittingbeforeitthoughtfullyrubbinghisantenn？againsteachother。

"Suddenly，thebeetlegavesuchajumpthathenearlypitchedheadlongintothefire，andsodidweall——gavejumps，Imean，andnowonder，forfromrightundertheskermfencetherecameamostfrightfulroar——aroarthatliterallymadetheScotchcartshakeandtookthebreathoutofme。

"Harrymadeanexclamation，Jim—Jimhowledoutright，whilethepooroxen，whowereterrifiedalmostoutoftheirhides，shiveredandlowedpiteously。

"Thenightwasalmostentirelydarknow，forthemoonhadquiteset，andthecloudshadcoveredupthestars，sothattheonlylightwehadcamefromthefire，whichbythistimewasburningupbrightlyagain。

But，asyouknow，firelightisabsolutelyuselesstoshootby，itissouncertain，andbesides，itpenetratesbutaverylittlewayintothedarkness，althoughifoneisinthedarkoutside，onecanseeitfromfaraway。

"Presentlytheoxen，afterstandingstillforamoment，suddenlywindedthelionanddidwhatIfearedtheywoulddo——beganto’skrek，’

thatis，totryandbreakloosefromthetrektowtowhichtheyweretied，torushoffmadlyintothewilderness。Lionsknowofthishabitonthepartofoxen，whichare，Idobelieve，themostfoolishanimalsunderthesun，asheepbeingaverySolomoncomparedtothem；anditisbynomeansuncommonforaliontogetinsuchapositionthataherdorspanofoxenmaywindhim，skrek，breaktheirreims，andrushoffintothebush。Ofcourse，oncethere，theyarehelplessinthedark；andthenthelionchoosestheonethathelovesbestandeatshimathisleisure。

"Well，roundandroundwentoursixpooroxen，nearlytramplingustodeathintheirmadrush；indeed，hadwenothastilytumbledoutoftheway，weshouldhavebeentroddentodeath，orattheleastseriouslyinjured。Asitwas，Harrywasrunover，andpoorJim—Jimbeingcaughtbythetrektowsomewherebeneaththearm，washurledrightacrosstheskerm，landingbymysideonlysomepacesoff。

"Snapwentthedisselboomofthecartbeneaththetransversestrainputuponit。Haditnotbrokenthecartwouldhaveoverset；asitwas，inanotherminute，oxen，cart，trektow，reims，brokendisselboom，andeverythingweresoontiedinonevastheaving，plunging，bellowing，andseeminglyinextricableknot。

"Foramomentortwothisstateofaffairstookmyattentionofffromthelionthathadcausedit，butwhilstIwaswonderingwhatonearthwastobedonenext，andhowweshouldmanageifthecattlebrokelooseintothebushandwerelost——forcattlefrightenedinthismannerwillsostraightawaylikemadthings——mythoughtsweresuddenlyrecalledtothelioninaverypainfulfashion。

"ForatthatmomentIperceivedbythelightofthefireakindofgleamofyellowtravellingthroughtheairtowardsus。

"’Thelion！thelion！’holloaedPharaoh，andashedidso，he，orrathershe，foritwasagreatgauntlioness，halfwildnodoubtwithhunger，litrightinthemiddleoftheskerm，andstoodthereinthesmokygloomlashinghertailandroaring。Iseizedmyrifleandfireditather，butwhatbetweentheconfusion，myagitation，andtheuncertainlight，Imissedher，andnearlyshotPharaoh。Theflashoftherifle，however，threwthewholesceneintostrongrelief，andawildsightitwasIcantellyou——withtheseethingmassofoxentwistedallroundthecart，insuchafashionthattheirheadslookedasthoughtheyweregrowingoutoftheirrumps；andtheirhornsseemedtoprotrudefromtheirbacks；thesmokingfirewithjustablazeintheheartofthesmoke；Jim—Jimintheforeground，wheretheoxenhadthrownhimintheirwildrush，stretchedoutthereinterror，andthenasacentretothepicturethegreatgauntlionessglaringroundwithhungryyelloweyes，roaringandwhiningasshemadeuphermindwhattodo。

"Itdidnottakeherlong，however，justthetimethatittakesaflashtodieintodarkness，for，beforeIcouldfireagainordoanything，withamostfiendishsnortshespranguponpoorJim—Jim。

"Iheardtheunfortunateladshriek，andthenalmostinstantlyIsawhislegsthrownintotheair。Thelionesshadseizedhimbytheneck，andwithasuddenjerkthrownhisbodyoverherbacksothathislegshungdownuponthefurtherside。[*]Then，withouttheslightesthesitation，andapparentlywithoutanydifficulty，sheclearedtheskermfaceatasinglebound，andbearingpoorJim—Jimwithhervanishedintothedarknessbeyond，inthedirectionofthebathing—

placethatIhavealreadydescribed。Wejumpedupperfectlymadwithhorrorandfear，andrushedwildlyafterher，firingshotsathaphazardonthechancethatshewouldbefrightenedbythemintodroppingherprey，butnothingcouldwesee，andnothingcouldwehear。Thelionesshadvanishedintothedarkness，takingJim—Jimwithher，andtoattempttofollowhertilldaylightwasmadness。Weshouldonlyexposeourselvestotheriskofalikefate。