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Well； we escaped from the line of the smoke； a dishevelled trioindeed；
Umbezi had nothing left on him except his head ringand shouted for the
others； if perchance they had not been trodden to death in the rush。
The first to arrive was Saduko； who looked quite calm and untroubled；
but stared at us in astonishment； and asked coolly what we had been
doing to get in such a state。 I replied in appropriate language； and
asked in turn how he had managed to remain so nicely dressed。
He did not answer； but I believe the truth was that he had crept into a
large ant…bear's holesmall blame to him； to be frank。 Then the
remainder of our party turned up one by one； some of them looking very
blown； as though they had run a long way。 None were missing； except
those who had fired the reeds； and they thought it well to keep clear
for a good many hours。 I believe that afterwards they regretted not
having taken a longer leave of absence； but when they finally did arrive
I was in no condition to note what passed between them and their
outraged chief。
Being collected； the question arose what we should do。 Of course； I
wished to return to camp and get out of this ill…omened place as soon as
possible。 But I had reckoned without the vanity of Umbezi。 Umbezi
stretched over the edge of a sharp rock； whither he had been hoisted by
the nose of a buffalo； and imagining himself to be mortally wounded； was
one thing； but Umbezi in a borrowed moocha； although； because of his
bruises； he supported his person with one hand in front and with the
other behind； knowing his injuries to be purely superficial； was quite
another。
〃I am a hunter；〃 he said； 〃I am named 'Eater…up…of…Elephants'；〃 and he
rolled his eyes； looking about for someone to contradict him； which
nobody did。 Indeed； his 〃praiser；〃 a thin； tired…looking person； whose
voice was worn out with his previous exertions； repeated in a feeble
way：
〃Yes； Black One； 'Eater…up…of…Elephants' is your name；
'Lifted…up…by…Buffalo' is your name。〃
〃Be silent； idiot；〃 roared Umbezi。 〃As I said； I am a hunter； I have
wounded the wild beast that subsequently dared to assault me。 ＇As a
matter of fact； it was I； Allan Quatermain； who had wounded it。＇ I
would make it bite the dust； for it cannot be far away。 Let us follow
it。〃
He glared round him； whereon his obsequious people； or one of them；
echoed：
〃Yes； by all means let us follow it； 'Eater…up…of…Elephants。'
Macumazahn； the clever white man； will show us how； for where is the
buffalo that he fears！〃
Of course； after this there was nothing else to be done； so； having
summoned the scratched Scowl； who seemed to have no heart in the
business； we started on the spoor of the herd； which was as easy to
track as a wagon road。
〃Never mind； Baas；〃 said Scowl； 〃they are two hours' march off by now。〃
〃I hope so；〃 I answered； but； as it happened； luck was against me； for
before we had covered half a mile some over…zealous fellow struck a
blood spoor。
I marched on that spoor for twenty minutes or so； till we came to a
patch of bush that sloped downwards to a river…bed。 Right to this river
I followed it； till I reached the edge of a big pool that was still full
of water； although the river itself had gone dry。 Here I stood looking
at the spoor and consulting with Saduko as to whether the beast could
have swum the pool； for the tracks that went to its very verge had
become confused and uncertain。 Suddenly our doubts were ended； since
out of a patch of dense bush which we had passedfor it had played the
common trick of doubling back on its own spoorappeared the buffalo； a
huge bull； that halted on three legs； my bullet having broken one of its
thighs。 As to its identity there was no doubt； since on； or rather
from； its right horn； which was cleft apart at the top； hung the remains
of Umbezi's moocha。
〃Oh； beware； Inkoosi；〃 cried Saduko in a frightened voice。 _〃It is the
buffalo with the cleft horn！_〃
I heard him； I saw。 All the scene in the hut of Zikali rose before
methe old dwarf； his words； everything。 I lifted my rifle and fired
at the charging beast； but knew that the bullet glanced from its skull。
I threw down the gunfor the buffalo was right on meand tried to jump
aside。
Almost I did so； but that cleft horn； to which hung the remains of
Umbezi's moocha； scooped me up and hurled me off the river bank
backwards and sideways into the deep pool below。 As I departed thither
I saw Saduko spring forward and heard a shot fired that caused the bull
to collapse for a moment。 Then with a slow； sliding motion it followed
me into the pool。
Now we were together； and there was no room for both； so after a certain
amount of dodging I went under； as the lighter dog always does in a
fight。 That buffalo seemed to do everything to me which a buffalo could
do under the circumstances。 It tried to horn me； and partially
succeeded； although I ducked at each swoop。 Then it struck me with its
nose and drove me to the bottom of the pool； although I got hold of its
lip and twisted it。 Then it calmly knelt on me and sank me deeper and
deeper into the mud。 I remember kicking it in the stomach。 After this
I remember no more； except a kind of wild dream in which I rehearsed all
the scene in the dwarf's hut； and his request that when I met the
buffalo with the cleft horn in the pool of a dried river； I should
remember that he was nothing but a 〃poor old Kafir cheat。〃
After this I saw my mother bending over a little child in my bed in the
old house in Oxfordshire where I was born； and thenblackness！
I came to myself again and saw； instead of my mother； the stately figure
of Saduko bending over me upon one side； and on the other that of Scowl；
the half…bred Hottentot； who was weeping； for his hot tears fell upon my
face。
〃He is gone；〃 said poor Scowl； 〃that bewitched beast with the split horn
has killed him。 He is gone who was the best white man in all South
Africa； whom I loved better than my father and all my relatives。〃
〃That you might easily do； Bastard；〃 answered Saduko； 〃seeing that you
do not know who they are。 But he is not gone； for the 'Opener…of…Roads'
said that he would live； also I got my spear into the heart of that
buffalo before he had kneaded the life out of him； as fortunately the
mud was soft。 Yet I fear that his ribs are broken〃； and he poked me
with his finger on the breast。
〃Take your clumsy hand off me；〃 I gasped。
〃There！〃 said Saduko； 〃I have made him feel。 Did I not tell you that he
would live？〃
After this I remember little more； except some confused dreams； till I
found myself lying in a great hut； which I discovered subsequently was
Umbezi's own； the same； indeed； wherein I had doctored the ear of that
wife of his who was called 〃Worn…out…old…Cow。〃
CHAPTER IV
MAMEENA
For a while I contemplated the roof and sides of the hut by the light
which entered it through the smoke…vent and the door…hole； wondering
whose it might be and how I came there。
Then I tried to sit up； and instantly was seized with agony in the
region of the ribs； which I found were bound about with bro