CHAPTER I MEET It is a curious thing that at age -- fifty-five last birthday -- should find taking up a pen to try to write a history .
wonder what sort of a history it will be when have finished it , if ever come to the end of the trip !
have done a good many things in life , which seems a long one to , owing to having begun work so young , perhaps .
At an age when are at was earning living as .
have been trading , hunting , fighting , or mining ever since .
And yet it is only eight months ago that made pile .
It is a big pile now that have got it -- do n't yet know how big -- but do not think would go through the last fifteen or sixteen months again for it ; no , not if knew that should come out safe at the end , pile and all .
But then am , and dislike violence ; moreover , am almost sick of adventure .
wonder why am going to write this book : it is not in line .
am not , though very devoted to the Old Testament and also to the " Ingoldsby Legends . "
Let try to set down reasons , just to see if have any .
First reason : Because and asked .
Second reason : Because am laid up at with the pain in left leg .
Ever since that confounded lion got hold of have been liable to this trouble , and being rather bad just now , it makes limp more than ever .
There must be some poison in a lion 's teeth , otherwise how is it that when wounds are healed they break out again , generally , mark , at the same time of year that got mauling ?
It is a hard thing when one has shot sixty-five lions or more , as have in the course of life , that the sixty-sixth should chew leg like a quid of tobacco .
It breaks the routine of the thing , and putting other considerations aside , am and do n't like that .
This is by the way .
Third reason : Because want , to have something to amuse and keep out of mischief for a week or so .
work must sometimes pall and grow rather dull , for even of cutting up dead bodies there may come satiety , and as this history will not be dull , whatever else it may be , it will put a little life into things for a day or two while is reading of adventures .
Fourth reason and last : Because am going to tell the strangest story that remember .
It may seem a queer thing to say , especially considering that there is in it -- except .
Stop , though !
there is , if was , and not .
But was a hundred at least , and therefore not marriageable , so do n't count .
At any rate , can safely say that there is not a _ petticoat _ in the whole history .
Well , had better come to the yoke .
It is a stiff place , and feel as though were bogged up to the axle .
But , " _ sutjes , sutjes _ , " as say -- am sure do n't know how spell it -- softly does it .
A strong team will come through at last , that is , if they are not too poor .
can never do anything with poor oxen .
Now to make a start .
, , of , , , make oath and say -- That 's how headed deposition before about poor 's and 's sad deaths ; but somehow it does n't seem quite the right way to begin a book .
And , besides , am ?
What is ?
do n't quite know , and yet have had to do with -- no , will scratch out that word " niggers , " for do not like it .
've known who _ are _ , and so will say , , , before have done with this tale , and have known , too , who _ are not _ .
At any rate , was born , though have been nothing but all life .
Whether have remained so known not , must judge of that .
knows 've tried .
have killed in time , yet have never slain wantonly or stained hand in innocent blood , but only in self-defence .
gave lives , and suppose meant to defend them , at least have always acted on that , and hope it will not be brought up against when clock strikes .
There , there , it is , and for have been mixed up in a great deal of fighting .
can not tell the rights of it , but at any rate have never stolen , though once cheated out of a herd of cattle .
But then had done a dirty turn , and it has troubled ever since into the bargain .
Well , it is eighteen months or so ago since first met and .
It was in this way .
had been up elephant hunting beyond , and had met with bad luck .
Everything went wrong that trip , and to top up with got the fever badly .
So soon as was well enough trekked down to , sold such ivory as had , together with wagon and oxen , discharged , and took the post-cart to .
After spending a week in , finding that overcharged at , and having seen everything there was to see , including , which seem to likely to confer a great benefit on , and , which expect will do nothing of the sort , determined to go back to by , then lying at the docks waiting for due in from .
took berth and went aboard , and that afternoon transhipped , and weighed and put to .
Among were .
One , , was perhaps .
had yellow hair , a thick yellow beard , clear-cut features , and large grey eyes set deep in head .
never saw , and somehow reminded of .
Not that know much of , though knew ; but remember once seeing a picture of , who , take it , were .
were drinking out of big horns , and long hair hung down backs .
As looked at , thought that if only let grow a little , put one of those chain shirts on to great shoulders , and took hold of a battle-axe and a horn mug , might have sat as .
And by the way it is a curious thing , and just shows how the blood will out , discovered afterwards that , for that was 's name , is of Danish blood .
[ 1 ] also reminded strongly of , but at the time could not remember who it was .
, was stout and dark , and of quite a different cut .
suspected at once that was ; do n't know why , but it is difficult to mistake .
have gone shooting trips with several of in the course of life , and have always proved , though sadly given , , to the use of profane language .
asked a page or two back , what is ?
'll answer the question now : is , in a general sort of way , though of course there may be a black sheep among here and there .
fancy it is just and the breath of 's winds that wash hearts and blow the bitterness out of minds and make what ought to be .
Well , to return , proved right again ; ascertained that _ was _ , , who , after seventeen years ' service , had been turned out of 's employ with the barren honour of 's rank , because it was impossible that should be promoted .
This is what have to expect : to be shot out into to find a living just when are beginning really to understand work , and to reach the prime of life .
suppose do n't mind it , but for own part had rather earn bread as .
One 's halfpence are as scarce perhaps , but do not get so many kicks .
's name found out -- by referring to ' lists -- was -- .
was broad , of medium height , dark , stout , and rather .
was so very neat and so very clean-shaved , and always wore an eye-glass in right eye .
It seemed to grow there , for it had no string , and never took it out except to wipe it .
At first thought used to sleep in it , but afterwards found that this was a mistake .
put it in trousers pocket when went to bed , together with false teeth , of which had two beautiful sets that , own being none of the best , have often caused to break the tenth commandment .
But am anticipating .