Part 30 (1/2)
Both Ragnall and I acknowledged the force of this argument and in the end we gave the promise, speaking one by one.
”It is enough,” said Hart; ”moreover, know, Lord, that among us White Kendah he who breaks an oath is put across the River Tava unarmed to make report thereof to Jana, Father of Lies. Now farewell. If we do not meet at the Feast of the First-fruits on the day of the new moon, whither once more I invite you, we can talk together here after I have heard the voice of the Oracle.”
Then he mounted a camel which awaited him outside the gate and departed with an escort of twelve men, also riding camels.
”There is some other road up that mountain, Quatermain,” said Ragnall.
”A camel could sooner pa.s.s through the eye of a needle than through that dreadful cave, even if it were empty.”
”Probably,” I answered, ”but as we don't know where it is and I dare say it lies miles from here, we need not trouble our heads on the matter.
The cave is _our_ only road, which means that there is _no_ road.”
That evening at supper we discovered that Hans was missing; also that he had got possession of my keys and broken into a box containing liquor, for there it stood open in the cooking-hut with the keys in the lock.
”He has gone on the drink,” I said to Ragnall, ”and upon my soul I don't wonder at it; for sixpence I would follow his example.”
Then we went to bed. Next morning we breakfasted rather late, since when one has nothing to do there is no object in getting up early. As I was preparing to go to the cook-house to boil some eggs, to our astonishment Hans appeared with a kettle of coffee.
”Hans,” I said, ”you are a thief.”
”Yes, Baas,” answered Hans.
”You have been at the gin box and taking that poison.”
”Yes, Baas, I have been taking poison. Also I took a walk and all is right now. The Baas must not be angry, for it is very dull doing nothing here. Will the Baases eat porridge as well as eggs?”
As it was no use scolding him I said that we would. Moreover, there was something about his manner which made me suspicious, for really he did not look like a person who has just been very drunk.
After we had finished breakfast he came and squatted down before me.
Having lit his pipe he asked suddenly:
”Would the Baases like to walk through that cave to-night? If so, there will be no trouble.”
”What do you mean?” I asked, suspecting that he was still drunk.
”I mean, Baas, that the Dweller-in-the-cave is fast asleep.”
”How do you know that, Hans?”
”Because I am the nurse who put him to sleep, Baas, though he kicked and cried a great deal. He is asleep; he will wake no more. Baas, I have killed the Father of Serpents.”
”Hans,” I said, ”now I am sure that you are still drunk, although you do not show it outside.”
”Hans,” added Ragnall, to whom I had translated as much of this as he did not understand, ”it is too early in the day to tell good stories.
How could you possibly have killed that serpent without a gun--for you took none with you--or with it either for that matter?”
”Will the Baases come and take a walk through the cave?” asked Hans with a sn.i.g.g.e.r.
”Not till I am quite sure that you are sober,” I replied; then, remembering certain other events in this worthy's career, added; ”Hans, if you do not tell us the story at once I will beat you.”
”There isn't much story, Baas,” replied Hans between long sucks at his pipe, which had nearly gone out, ”because the thing was so easy. The Baas is very clever and so is the Lord Baas, why then can they never see the stones that lie under their noses? It is because their eyes are always fixed upon the mountains between this world and the next. But the poor Hottentot, who looks at the ground to be sure that he does not stumble, ah! he sees the stones. Now, Baas, did you not hear that man in a night s.h.i.+rt with his head shaved say that those goats were food for One who dwelt in the mountain?”