Forwas this not vowed to you at the
beginning?
Yes, Iwho am a Christian and have renounced all
superstitions, say thatit is an evil spirit. Not till afterwards did I remember that
only Hans and I wereincluded in that assertion. Indeed, the silence was so
oppressive thatfor once I should have welcomed the familiar ping! Moreover, if it
were a dream, whatwas the hideous stabbing pain in my leg?
Tom and Jerry werealmost speechless with
rage.
Evidently this Kaneke was one who had authority
amongnatives. I mean what I say, and I do know it, Lord.
For now the bulls faced the cows and the
rest.
Only how in Heavens namedid he know anything about
it?
Yet I have done nothing of the sort, Hans, answered
Kanekeindignantly.
Yes, he thinkshe is going to sleep, sniggered Hans.
I dont want to shoot him, I replied, and if you fire I willbreak your
neck.
Yet to right and left there were more ahead. I had
not desired to come uponthis absurd hunt, yet somehow Kaneke had pushed me into it.
I mean what I say, and I do know it, Lord. Come on, I said, and keep together, for
there is nothing else tobe done. After passing the last of these rivers our path ran
through a denseforest for two days. Only how in Heavens namedid he know anything
about it? But if you turn back before yourmission is ended, it will
depart.
Well, I have changed mymind; I no longer desire to
travel to the Lake Mone. Tom and Jerry werealmost speechless with rage.
I halted, for I confess that for a moment my knees
grew weak. Well, I have changed mymind; I no longer desire to travel to the Lake
Mone. But of the second as much could not be said. So welay down and went to sleep
as usual. I halted, for I confess that for a moment my knees grew weak.
However, I pulled myself together and spoke to
themseverely, ending with an order to advance. Then he lifted his trunk and
Imuttered a prayer, thinking that all was over. As you know, I have not beenhunting;
I have been hunted.
You are fooling me with words, but Isuppose that
what you mean is, that we must go on with you.
Yet to right and left there were more ahead. This
was the meeting of the elephantswhich he had prophesied we should see. That beast
isnot an elephant, it is an evil spirit in the shape of one. Suddenly the elephants
seemed to catch sight of him, or perhapsthey saw the smoke from the fire. But of the
second as much could not be said.
The giant bull trumpeted once, as though in
acknowledgment of thesalute.
To lose oneself in that forest would indeed be a
dreadful fate.