Prester John by John Buchan
CHAPTER VIII
I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA
Once, as a boy, I had earnestly desired to go into the army, and hadhopes of rising to be a great general. Now that I know myself better,I do not think I would have been much good at a general's work. Iwould have shirked the loneliness of it, the isolation ofresponsibility. But I think I would have done well in a subalterncommand, for I had a great notion of carrying out orders, and a certainzest in the mere act of obedience. Three days before I had been asnervous as a kitten because I was alone and it was 'up to me,' asAmericans say, to decide on the next step. But now that I was only onewheel in a great machine of defence my nervousness seemed to have fled.I was well aware that the mission I was bound on was full of risk; but,to my surprise, I felt no fear. Indeed, I had much the same feeling asa boy on a Saturday's holiday who has planned a big expedition. Onething only I regretted--that Tam Dyke was not with me to see the fun.The thought of that faithful soul, now beating somewhere on the seas,made me long for his comradeship. As I shaved, I remember wondering ifI would ever shave again, and the thought gave me no tremors. For oncein my sober life I was strung up to the gambler's pitch of adventure.
My job was to go to Umvelos' as if on my ordinary business, and ifpossible find out something of the evening's plan of march. Thequestion was how to send back a message to Arcoll, assuming I had anydifficulty in getting away. At first this puzzled us both, and then Ithought of Colin. I had trained the dog to go home at my bidding, foroften when I used to go hunting I would have occasion to visit a kraalwhere he would have been a nuisance. Accordingly, I resolved to takeColin with me, and, if I got into trouble, to send word by him.
I asked about Laputa's knowledge of our preparations. Arcoll wasinclined to think that he suspected little. The police and thecommandos had been kept very secret, and, besides, they were moving onthe high veld and out of the ken of the tribes. Natives, he told me,were not good scouts so far as white man's work was concerned, for theydid not understand the meaning of what we did. On the other hand, hisown native scouts brought him pretty accurate tidings of any Kaffirmovements. He thought that all the bush country of the plain would beclosely watched, and that no one would get through without some kind ofpass. But he thought also that the storekeeper might be an exception,for his presence would give rise to no suspicions. Almost his lastwords to me were to come back hell-for-leather if I saw the game washopeless, and in any case to leave as soon as I got any news. 'Ifyou're there when the march begins,' he said, 'they'll cut your throatfor a certainty.' I had all the various police posts on the Berg clearin my mind, so that I would know where to make for if the road toBlaauwildebeestefontein should be closed.
I said good-bye to Arcoll and Wardlaw with a light heart, though theschoolmaster broke down and implored me to think better of it. As Iturned down into the gorge I heard the sound of horses' feet farbehind, and, turning back, saw white riders dismounting at the dorp.At any rate I was leaving the country well guarded in my rear.
It was a fine morning in mid-winter, and I was in very good spirits asI jogged on my pony down the steep hill-road, with Colin running besideme. A month before I had taken the same journey, with no suspicion inmy head of what the future was to bring. I thought about my Dutchcompanions, now with their cattle far out on the plains. Did they knowof the great danger, I wondered. All the way down the glen I saw nosign of human presence. The game-birds mocked me from the thicket; abrace of white _berghaan_ circled far up in the blue; and I had forpleasant comrade the brawling river. I dismounted once to drink, andin that green haven of flowers and ferns I was struck sharply with asense of folly. Here were we wretched creatures of men making for eachother's throats, and outraging the good earth which God had made sofair a habitation.
I had resolved on a short cut to Umvelos', avoiding the neighbourhoodof Sikitola's kraal, so when the river emerged from the glen I crossedit and struck into the bush. I had not gone far before I realized thatsomething strange was going on. It was like the woods on the Berg aweek before. I had the impression of many people moving in the bush,and now and then I caught a glimpse of them. My first thought was thatI should be stopped, but soon it appeared that these folk had businessof their own which did not concern me. I was conscious of beingwatched, yet it was clear that the bush folk were not there for thepurpose of watching me.
For a little I kept my spirits, but as the hours passed with the sameuncanny hurrying to and fro all about me my nerves began to suffer.Weeks of espionage at Blaauwildebeestefontein had made me jumpy. Thesepeople apparently meant me no ill, and had no time to spare on me, Butthe sensation of moving through them was like walking on a black-darknight with precipices all around. I felt odd quiverings between myshoulder blades where a spear might be expected to lodge. Overhead wasa great blue sky and a blazing sun, and I could see the path runningclear before me between the walls of scrub. But it was like midnightto me, a midnight of suspicion and unknown perils. I began to wishheartily I had never come.
I stopped for my midday meal at a place called Taqui, a grassy glade inthe bush where a tiny spring of water crept out from below a big stone,only to disappear in the sand. Here I sat and smoked for half an hour,wondering what was going to become of me. The air was very still, butI could hear the rustle of movement somewhere within a hundred yards.The hidden folk were busy about their own ends, and I regretted that Ihad not taken the road by Sikitola's and seen how the kraals looked.They must be empty now, for the young men were already out on somemission. So nervous I got that I took my pocket-book and wrote downcertain messages to my mother, which I implored whoever should find mybody to transmit. Then, a little ashamed of my childishness, I pulledmyself together, and remounted.
About three in the afternoon I came over a low ridge of bush and sawthe corrugated iron roof of the store and the gleam of water from theLabongo. The sight encouraged me, for at any rate it meant the end ofthis disquieting ride. Here the bush changed to trees of some size,and after leaving the ridge the road plunged for a little into a thickshade. I had forgotten for a moment the folk in the bush, and when aman stepped out of the thicket I pulled up my horse with a start.
It was a tall native, who carried himself proudly, and after a glanceat me, stalked along at my side. He wore curious clothes, for he had akind of linen tunic, and around his waist hung a kilt of leopard-skin.In such a man one would have looked for a _ting-kop_,[1] but instead hehad a mass of hair, not like a Kaffir's wool, but long and curled likesome popular musician's. I should have been prepared for the face, butthe sight of it sent a sudden chill of fright through my veins. Forthere was the curved nose, the deep flashing eyes, and the cruel lipsof my enemy of the Kirkcaple shore.
Colin was deeply suspicious and followed his heels growling, but henever turned his head.
'The day is warm, father,' I said in Kaffir. 'Do you go far?'
He slackened his pace till he was at my elbow. 'But a short way,Baas,' he replied in English; 'I go to the store yonder.'
'Well met, then,' said I, 'for I am the storekeeper. You will findlittle in it, for it is newly built and not yet stocked. I have riddenover to see to it.'
He turned his face to me. 'That is bad news. I had hoped for food anddrink yonder. I have travelled far, and in the chill nights I desire acover for my head. Will the Baas allow me to sleep the night in anouthouse?'
By this time I had recovered my nerve, and was ready to play the part Ihad determined on. 'Willingly,' I said. 'You may sleep in thestoreroom if you care. You will find sacks for bedding, and the placeis snug enough on a cold night.'
He thanked me with a grave dignity which I had never seen in anyKaffir. As my eye fell on his splendid proportions I forgot all elsein my admiration of the man. In his minister's clothes he had lookedonly a heavily built native, but now in his savage dress I saw hownoble a figure he made. He must have been at least six feet and ahalf, but his chest was so deep and his shou
'I do not think you will cut my throat,' I said to myself. 'Your gameis too big for common murder.'
The store at Umvelos' stood as I had left it. There was the sjambok Ihad forgotten still lying on the window sill. I unlocked the door, anda stifling smell of new paint came out to meet me. Inside there wasnothing but the chairs and benches, and in a corner the pots and pans Ihad left against my next visit. I unlocked the cupboard and got out afew stores, opened the windows of the bedroom next door, and flung mykaross on the cartel which did duty as bed. Then I went out to findLaputa standing patiently in the sunshine.
I showed him the outhouse where I had said he might sleep. It was thelargest room in the store, but wholly unfurnished. A pile of barrelsand packing-cases stood in the corner, and there was enough sacking tomake a sort of bed.
'I am going to make tea,' I said. 'If you have come far you wouldmaybe like a cup?'
He thanked me, and I made a fire in the grate and put on the kettle toboil. Then I set on the table biscuits, and sardines, and a pot ofjam. It was my business now to play the fool, and I believe Isucceeded to admiration in the part. I blush to-day to think of thestuff I talked. First I made him sit on a chair opposite me, a thingno white man in the country would have done. Then I told himaffectionately that I liked natives, that they were fine fellows andbetter men than the dirty whites round about. I explained that I wasfresh from England, and believed in equal rights for all men, white orcoloured. God forgive me, but I think I said I hoped to see the daywhen Africa would belong once more to its rightful masters.
He heard me with an impassive face, his grave eyes studying every lineof me. I am bound to add that he made a hearty meal, and drank threecups of strong tea of my brewing. I gave him a cigar, one of a lot Ihad got from a Dutch farmer who was experimenting with theirmanufacture--and all the while I babbled of myself and my opinions. Hemust have thought me half-witted, and indeed before long I began to beof the same opinion myself. I told him that I meant to sleep the nighthere, and go back in the morning to Blaauwildebeestefontein, and thento Pietersdorp for stores. By-and-by I could see that he had ceased topay any attention to what I said. I was clearly set down in his mindas a fool. Instead he kept looking at Colin, who was lying blinking inthe doorway, one wary eye cocked on the stranger.
'You have a fine dog,' he observed.
'Yes,' I agreed, with one final effort of mendacity, 'he's fine to lookat, but he has no grit in him. Any mongrel from a kraal can make himturn tail. Besides, he is a born fool and can't find his way home.I'm thinking of getting rid of him.'
Laputa rose and his eye fell on the dog's back. I could see that hesaw the lie of his coat, and that he did not agree with me.
'The food was welcome, Baas,' he said. 'If you will listen to me I canrepay hospitality with advice. You are a stranger here. Troublecomes, and if you are wise you will go back to the Berg.'
'I don't know what you mean,' I said, with an air of cheerful idiocy.'But back to the Berg I go the first thing in the morning. I hatethese stinking plains.'
'It were wise to go to-night,' he said, with a touch of menace in histone.
'I can't,' I said, and began to sing the chorus of a ridiculousmusic-hall song--
'There's no place like home--but I'm afraid to go home in the dark.'
Laputa shrugged his shoulders, stepped over the bristling Colin, andwent out. When I looked after him two minutes later he had disappeared.
[1] The circlet into which, with the aid of gum, Zulu warriors weavetheir hair.