Part 15 (2/2)
”Yes,” I interrupted, ”I dare say it will be easier to get in than to get out of Kendahland”
”Last of all, Baas, if you take uns, the black part of the Kendah people of whom I told you will perhaps think you come to make hatever the white Kendah may say, and kill us all, whereas if we be but a few perchance they will let us pass in peace I think that is all, Baas Let the Baas and the Lord Igeza forgive me if eza” was the nanall because of his appearance The word e they called ”Bena,” I don't knohy ”Bena” in Zulu means to push out the breast and it may be that the name was a round-about allusion to the proud appearance of the dignified Savage, or possibly it had sonall, Hans and e thenceforward by the homely appellation of Beans His reen
”The advice seein,” I answered
As a matter of fact careful consideration convinced us it was so wise that we acted on it down to the last detail
So it caht later, for hurry as ould our preparations took a little time, we trekked for Zululand over the sandy roads that ran froe and stores were stowed in two half-tented wagons, very good wagons since everything we had with us was the best that -places at night
Hans sat on the _voor-kisse_ or driving-seat of one of the wagons; Lord Ragnall, Savage and I were mounted upon ”salted” horses, that is, horses which had recovered froainst the dreadful sickness, valuable and docile ani
At our start a little contretee, who insisted upon continuing to wear his funereal upper servant's cut-away coat, engaged with gri side He got into the saddle somehow, but there orse to follow The horse, astonished at such treat at its ons, fearing disaster All of a sudden it swerved violently and Savage flew into the air, landing heavily in a sitting posture
”Poor Beans!” ejaculated Lord Ragnall as we sped forward ”I expect there is an end of his journeyings”
To our surprise, however,hiility and begin to dance about slapping at his posterior parts and shouting,
”Take it off! Kill it!”
A few seconds later we discovered the reason The horse had shi+ed at a sleeping puff adder which was curled up in the sand of that little frequented road, and on this puff adder Savage had descended with so hed thirteen stone, that the creature was squashed quite flat and never stirred again This, however, he did not notice in his agitation, being convinced indeed that it was hanging to hi
”Snakes! my lord,” he exclaimed, when at last after careful search we demonstrated to him that the adder had died before it could come into action
”I hate 'eet out of this I'll go and live in Ireland, my lord, where they say there ain't none But it isn't likely that I shall,” he added mournfully, ”for the omen is horrid”
”On the contrary,” I answered, ”it is splendid, for you have killed the snake and not the snake you 'The dog it was that died,' Savage”
After this the Kafirs gave Savage a second very long name whichre patiently a few yards away, at length we got off I lingered a ive soardener, Jack, who snivelled at parting with me, and to take a last look at ht be the last indeed, knowing as I did that this was a dangerous enterprise upon which I found myself eer
With a lump in my throat I turned froarden in which each tree and plant was dear to nall aiting for me
”I a your little boy and your hoently, ”to face unknown perils”
”Not so sad as others I have passed,” I answered, ”and perils are my daily bread in every sense of the word Moreover, whatever it is for me it is for you also”
”No, Quatermain For me it is an hour of hope; a faint hope, I adht froland report that no clue whatsoever has been found, and indeed that the search for any has been abandoned Yes, I follow the last star left in my sky and if it sets I hope that I may set also, at any rate to this world Therefore I am happier than I have been for months, thanks to you,” and he stretched out his hand, which I shook
It was a token of friendshi+p andthat happened afterwards ever disturbed for a moment