A Tale Of Three Lions Read Free Page B

think that he had been named Pharaoh because
he had an Egyptian cast of countenance and a royal sort of swagger about him.
But his way was a somewhat peculiar way, on account of the uncertainty of his
temper, and very few people could get on with him; also if he could find
liquor he would drink like a fish, and when he drank he became shockingly
bloodthirsty. These were his bad points; his good ones were that, like most
people of the Zulu blood, he became exceedingly attached if he took to you at
all; he was a hard- working and intelligent man, and about as dare-devil and
plucky a fellow at a pinch as I have ever had to do with. He was about
five-and-thirty years of age or so, but not a ‘keshla’ or ringed man. I
believe that he had got into trouble in some way in Swaziland, and the
authorities of his tribe would not allow him to assume the ring, and that is
why he came to work at the gold-fields. The other man, or rather lad,
Jim-Jim, was a Mapoch Kaffir, or Knobnose, and even in the light of
subsequent events I fear I cannot speak very well of him. He was an idle and
careless young rascal, and only that very morning I had to tell Pharaoh to
give him a beating for letting the oxen stray, which Pharaoh did with the
greatest gusto, although he was by way of being very fond of Jim-Jim. Indeed,
I saw him consoling Jim-Jim afterwards with a pinch of snuff from his own
ear-box, whilst he explained to him that the next time it came in the way of
duty to flog him, he meant to thrash him with the other hand, so as to cross
the old cuts and make a “pretty pattern” on his back.
    “Well, off they went, though Jim-Jim did not at all like leaving the camp
at that hour, even when the moonlight was so bright, and in due course
returned safely enough with a great bundle of wood. I laughed at Jim-Jim, and
asked him if he had seen anything, and he said yes, he had; he had seen two
large yellow eyes staring at him from behind a bush, and heard something
snore.
    “As, however, on further investigation the yellow eyes and the snore
appeared to have existed only in Jim-Jim’s lively imagination, I was not
greatly disturbed by this alarming report; but having seen to the making-up
of the fire, got into the skerm and went quietly to sleep with Harry by my
side.
    “Some hours afterwards I woke up with a start. I don’t know what woke me.
The moon had gone down, or at least was almost hidden behind the soft horizon
of bush, only her red rim being visible. Also a wind had sprung up and was
driving long hurrying lines of cloud across the starry sky, and altogether a
great change had come over the mood of the night. By the look of the sky I
judged that we must be about two hours from day-break.
    “The oxen, which were as usual tied to the disselboom of the Scotch cart,
were very restless—they kept snuffling and blowing, and rising up and
lying down again, so I at once suspected that they must wind something.
Presently I knew what it was that they winded, for within fifty yards of us a
lion roared, not very loud, but quite loud enough to make my heart come into
my mouth.
    “Pharaoh was sleeping on the other side of the cart, and, looking beneath
it, I saw him raise his head and listen.
    “‘Lion, Inkoos,’ he whispered, ‘lion!’
    “Jim-Jim also jumped up, and by the faint light I could see that he was in
a very great fright indeed.
    “Thinking that it was as well to be prepared for emergencies, I told
Pharaoh to throw wood upon the fire, and woke up Harry, who I verily believe
was capable of sleeping happily through the crack of doom. He was a little
scared at first, but presently the excitement of the position came home to
him, and he grew quite anxious to see his majesty face to face. I got my
rifle handy and gave Harry his—a Westley Richards falling block,
which is a very useful gun for a youth, being light and yet a good killing
rifle, and then we waited.
    “For a long time