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。
