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brain。
He hem'd and haw'd a little at Squat's proposal； and then got out
of it by saying； 〃That is not necessary。 I can shoot it from
here。〃
〃It is too far；〃 objected Blacky。
〃Too far！ This is an Enfield rifle。 I could kill the poor beast
at three times that distance。〃
Blacky was amazed。 〃An Enfield rifle；〃 said he； in the soft
musical murmur of his tribe； which is the one charm of the poor
Hottentot； 〃and shoot three times SO far。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Christopher。 Then； seeing his companion's hesitation；
he conceived a hope。 〃If I kill that eland from here； will you
give me the diamond for my horse and the wonderful rifle？no
Hottentot has such a rifle。〃
Squat became cold directly。 〃The price of the diamond is two
hundred pounds。〃
Staines groaned with disappointment； and thought to himself with
rage； 〃Anybody but me would club the rifle； give the obstinate
black brute a stunner； and take the diamondGod forgive me！〃
Says the Hottentot cunningly； 〃I can't think so far as white man。
Let me see the eland dead； and then I shall know how far the rifle
shoot。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Staines。 But he felt sure the savage only wanted
his meal； and would never part with the diamond； except for the odd
money。
However； he loaded his left barrel with one of the explosive
projectiles Falcon had given him； it was a little fulminating shell
with a steel point。 It was with this barrel he had shot the murcat
overnight； and he had found he shot better with this barrel than
the other。 He loaded his left barrel then； saw the powder well up；
capped it and cut away a strip of the acacia with his knife to see
clear； and lying down in volunteer fashion； elbow on ground； drew
his bead steadily on an eland who presented him her broadside； her
back being turned to the wood。 The sun shone on her soft coat； and
never was a fairer mark； the sportsman's deadly eye being in the
cool shade； the animal in the sun。
He aimed long and steadily。 But just as he was about to pull the
trigger； Mind interposed； and he lowered the deadly weapon。 〃Poor
creature！〃 he said； 〃I am going to take her lifefor what？ for a
single meal。 She is as big as a pony； and I am to lay her carcass
on the plain； that we may eat two pounds of it。 This is how the
weasel kills the rabbit； sucks an ounce of blood for his food； and
wastes the rest。 So the demoralized sheep…dog tears out the poor
creature's kidneys； and wastes the rest。 Man； armed by science
with such powers of slaying； should be less egotistical than
weasels and perverted sheep…dogs。 I will not kill her。 I will not
lay that beautiful body of hers low； and glaze those tender； loving
eyes that never gleamed with hate or rage at man； and fix those
innocent jaws that never bit the life out of anything； not even of
the grass she feeds on； and does it more good than harm。 Feed on；
poor innocent。 And you be blanked； you and your diamond； that I
begin to wish I had never seen； for it would corrupt an angel。〃
Squat understood one word in ten； but he managed to reply。 〃This
is nonsense…talk；〃 said he； gravely。 〃The life is no bigger in
that than in the murcat you shot last shoot。〃
〃No more it is；〃 said Staines。 〃I am a fool。 It is come to this；
then； Kafirs teach us theology； and Hottentots morality。 I bow to
my intellectual superior。 I'll shoot the eland。〃 He raised his
rifle again。
〃No； no； no； no； no； no；〃 murmured the Hottentot； in a sweet voice
scarcely audible； yet so keen in its entreaty； that Staines turned
hastily round to look at him。 His face was ashy； his teeth
chattering； his limbs shaking。 Before Staines could ask him what
was the matter； he pointed through an aperture of the acacias into
the wood hard by the elands。 Staines looked； and saw what seemed
to him like a very long dog； or some such animal； crawling from
tree to tree。 He did not at all share the terror of his companion；
nor understand it。 But a terrible explanation followed。 This
creature； having got to the skirt of the wood； expanded； by some
strange magic； to an incredible size； and sprang into the open；
with a growl； a mighty lion； he seemed to ricochet from the ground；
so immense was his second bound； that carried him to the eland； and
he struck her one blow on the head with his terrible paw； and
felled her as if with a thunderbolt： down went her body； with all
the legs doubled； and her poor head turned over； and the nose
kissed the ground。 The lion stood motionless。 Presently the
eland； who was not dead； but stunned； began to recover and struggle
feebly up。 Then the lion sprang on her with a roar； and rolled her
over； and with two tremendous bites and a shake； tore her entrails
out and laid her dying。 He sat composedly down； and contemplated
her last convulsions； without touching her again。
At this roar； though not loud； the horse； though he had never heard
or seen a lion； trembled； and pulled at his halter。
Blacky crept into the water； and Staines was struck with such an
awe as he had never felt。 Nevertheless； the king of beasts being
at a distance； and occupied； and Staines a brave man； and out of
sight； he kept his ground and watched； and by those means saw a
sight never to be forgotten。 The lion rose up； and stood in the
sun incredibly beautiful as well as terrible。 He was not the mangy
hue of the caged lion； but a skin tawny； golden； glossy as a race…
horse； and of exquisite tint that shone like pure gold in the sun；
his eye a lustrous jewel of richest hue； and his mane sublime。 He
looked towards the wood； and uttered a full roar。 This was so
tremendous that the horse shook all over as if in an ague； and
began to lather。 Staines recoiled； and his flesh crept； and the
Hottentot went under water； and did not emerge for ever so long。
After a pause； the lion roared again； and all the beasts and birds
of prey seemed to know the meaning of that terrible roar。 Till
then the place had been a solitude； but now it began to fill in the
strangest way； as if the lord of the forest could call all his
subjects together with a trumpet roar： first came two lion cubs； to
whom； in fact； the roar had been addressed。 The lion rubbed
himself several times against the eland； but did not eat a morsel；
and the cubs went in and feasted on the prey。 The lion politely
and paternally drew back； and watched the young people enjoying
themselves。
Meantime approached； on tiptoe； jackals and hyenas； but dared not
come too near。 Slate…colored vultures settled at a little
distance； but not a soul dared interfere with the cubs； they saw
the lion was acting sentinel； and they knew better than come near。
After a time； papa feared for the digestion of those brats； or else
his own mouth watered； for he came up； knocked them head over heels
with his velvet paw； and they took the gentle hint； and ran into
the wood double quick。
Then the lion began tearing away at the eland； and bolting huge
morsels greedily。 This made the rabble's mouth water。 The hyenas；
and jackals； and vultures formed a circle ludicrous to behold； and
that circle kept narrowing as the lion tore away at his prey。 They
increased in number； and at last hunger overcame prudence； the rear
rank shoved on the front； as amongst men； and a general attack
seemed imminent。
Then the lion looked up at these invaders； uttered a reproachful
growl； and went at them； patting them right and left； and knocking
them over。 He never touched a vulture； nor indeed did he kill an
animal。 He was a lion； and only killed to eat； yet he soon cleared
the place； because he knocked over a few hyenas and jackals； and
the rest； being active； tumbled over the vultures before they could
spread their heavy wings。 After this warning； they made a
respectful circle again； through which； in due course； the gorged
lion stalked into the wood。
A savage's sentiments change quickly； and the Hottentot； fearing
little from a full lion； was now giggling at Staines's side。
Staines asked him which he thought was the lord of all creatures； a
man or a lion。
〃A lion；〃 said Blacky； amazed at such a shallow question。
Staines now got up； and proposed to continue their journey。 But
Blacky was for waiting till the lion was gone to sleep after his
meal。
While they discussed the question； the lion burst out of the wood
within hearing of their voices； as his pricked…up ears showed； and
made straight for them at a distance of scarcely thirty yards。
Now； the chances are； the lion knew nothing about them； and only
came to drink at the kloof； after his meal； and perhaps lie under
the acacias： but who can think calmly； when his first lion bursts
out on him a few paces off？ Staines shouldered his rifle； took a
hasty； flurried aim； and sent a bullet at him。
If he had missed him； perhaps the report might have turned the
lion； but he wounded him； and not mortally。 Instantly the enraged
beast uttered a terrific roar； and came at him with his mane
distended with rage； his eyes glaring； his mouth open； and his
whole body dilated with fury。
At that terrible moment； Staines recovered his wits enough to see
that what little chance he had was to fire into the destroye