Weweretravellingthroughtheforestinwhichtheyfoundthebabies,andwhich,asIhadsuspected,stretchedallthewayfromthevalleytothehotstream。
Atinygirlsatwithherlittlefeetclosetomyface,andlookeddownatmecoaxinglyforawhile,thenspoke,therestseemingtohangonherwords。
\"Wemakeapetissontoking,\"shesaid。
\"Whatisit,mydarling？\"Iasked。
\"Suteyesoneminute,\"sheanswered。
\"CertainlyIwill！Heregoes！\"Ireplied,andshutmyeyesclose。
\"No,no！notforeItelloo！\"shecried。
Iopenedthemagain,andwetalkedandlaughedtogetherforquiteanotherhour。
\"Closeeyes！\"shesaidsuddenly。
Iclosedmyeyes,andkeptthemclose。Theelephantsstoodstill。
Iheardasoftscurry,alittlerustle,andthenasilence——forinthatworldSOMEsilencesAREheard。
\"Openeyes！\"twentyvoicesalittlewayoffshoutedatonce;butwhenIobeyed,notacreaturewasvisibleexcepttheelephantsthatboreme。Iknewthechildrenmarvellouslyquickingettingoutoftheway——thegiantshadtaughtthemthat;butwhenIraisedmyself,andlookingaboutintheopenshrublessforest,coulddescryneitherhandnorheel,Istaredin\"blankastonishment。\"
Thesunwasset,anditwasfastgettingdark,yetpresentlyamultitudeofbirdsbegantosing。Ilaydowntolisten,prettysurethat,ifIleftthemalone,thehiderswouldsooncomeoutagain。
Thesinginggrewtoalittlestormofbird—voices。\"Surelythechildrenmusthavesomethingtodowithit！——Andyethowcouldtheysetthebirdssinging？\"IsaidtomyselfasIlayandlistened。
Soon,however,happeningtolookupintothetreeunderwhichmyelephantsstood,IthoughtIspiedalittlemotionamongtheleaves,andlookedmorekeenly。Suddenwhitespotsappearedinthedarkfoliage,themusicdieddown,agaleofchildishlaughterrippledtheair,andwhitespotscameoutineverydirection:thetreeswerefullofchildren！Inthewildestmerrimenttheybegantodescend,somedroppingfromboughtoboughsorapidlythatIcouldscarcebelievetheyhadnotfallen。Ileftmylitter,andwasinstantlysurrounded——amarkforalltheartilleryoftheirjubilantfun。
Withstatelycomposuretheelephantswalkedawaytobed。
\"But,\"saidI,whentheiruproariousgladnesshadhadscopeforawhile,\"howisitthatIneverbeforeheardyousinglikethebirds？
EvenwhenIthoughtitmustbeyou,Icouldhardlybelieveit！\"
\"Ah,\"saidoneofthewildest,\"butwewerenotbirdsthen！Wewererun—creatures,notfly—creatures！Wehadourhide—placesinthebushesthen;butwhenwecametono—bushes,onlytrees,wehadtobuildnests！Whenwebuiltnests,wegrewbirds,andwhenwewerebirds,wehadtodobirds！Weaskedthemtoteachustheirnoises,andtheytaughtus,andnowwearerealbirds！——Comeandseemynest。It\'snotbigenoughforking,butit\'sbigenoughforkingtoseemeinit！\"
ItoldhimIcouldnotgetupatreewithoutthesuntoshowmetheway;whenhecame,Iwouldtry。
\"Kingsseldomhavewings！\"Iadded。
\"King！king！\"criedone,\"ooknowsnoneofushasn\'tnowings——foolisfedderytings！Armsandlegsisbetter。\"
\"Thatistrue。Icangetupwithoutwings——andcarrystrawsinmymouthtoo,tobuildmynestwith！\"
\"Ooknows！\"heanswered,andwentawaysuckinghisthumb。
Amomentafter,Iheardhimcallingoutofhisnest,agreatwayupawalnuttreeofenormoussize,\"Upadain,king！Doodnight！Iseepy！\"
AndIheardnomoreofhimtillhewokemeinthemorning。
CHAPTERXXXIII
LONA\'SNARRATIVE
Ilaydownbyatree,andoneandoneorinlittlegroups,thechildrenleftmeandclimbedtotheirnests。Theywerealwayssotiredatnightandsorestedinthemorning,thattheywereequallygladtogotosleepandtogetupagain。I,althoughtiredalso,layawake:Lonahadnotbidmegoodnight,andIwassureshewouldcome。
Ihadbeenstruck,themomentIsawheragain,withherresemblancetotheprincess,andcouldnotdoubtherthedaughterofwhomAdamhadtoldme;butinLonathedazzlingbeautyofLilithwassoftenedbychildlikeness,anddeepenedbythesenseofmotherhood。\"Sheisoccupiedprobably,\"Isaidtomyself,\"withthechildofthewomanImetfleeing！\"who,shehadalreadytoldme,wasnothalfmotherenough。
Shecameatlength,satdownbesideme,andafterafewmomentsofsilentdelight,expressedmainlybystrokingmyfaceandhands,begantotellmeeverythingthathadbefallensinceIwent。Themoonappearedaswetalked,andnowandthen,throughtheleaves,lightedforaquiveringmomentherbeautifulface——fullofthought,andacarewhoseloveredeemedandglorifiedit。Howsuchachildshouldhavebeenbornofsuchamother——suchawomanofsuchaprincess,washardtounderstand;butthen,happily,shehadtwoparents——sayrather,three！Shedrewmyheartbywhatinmewaslikestherself,andIlovedherasonewho,growtowhatperfectionshemight,couldonlybecomethemoreachild。IknewnowthatI
lovedherwhenIlefther,andthatthehopeofseeingheragainhadbeenmymaincomfort。Everywordshespokeseemedtogostraighttomyheart,and,likethetruthitself,makeitpurer。
ShetoldmethatafterIlefttheorchardvalley,thegiantsbegantobelievealittlemoreintheactualexistenceoftheirneighbours,andbecameinconsequencemorehostiletothem。SometimestheLittleOneswouldseethemtramplingfuriously,perceivingorimaginingsomeindicationoftheirpresence,whiletheyindeedstoodbeside,andlaughedattheirfoolishrage。Byandby,however,theiranimosityassumedamorepracticalshape:theybegantodestroythetreesonwhosefruittheLittleOneslived。Thisdrovethemotherofthemalltomeditatecounteraction。Settingthesharpestofthemtolistenatnight,shelearnedthatthegiantsthoughtIwashiddensomewherenear,intending,assoonasI
recoveredmystrength,tocomeinthedarkandkillthemsleeping。
Thereuponsheconcludedthattheonlywaytostopthedestructionwastogivethemgroundforbelievingthattheyhadabandonedtheplace。TheLittleOnesmustremoveintotheforest——beyondtherangeofthegiants,butwithinreachoftheirowntrees,whichtheymustvisitbynight！Themainobjectiontotheplanwas,thattheforesthadlittleornoundergrowthtoshelter——orconcealthemifnecessary。
Butshereflectedthatwherebirds,theretheLittleOnescouldfindhabitation。Theyhadeagersympathieswithallmodesoflife,andcouldlearnofthewildestcreatures:whyshouldtheynottakerefugefromthecoldandtheirenemiesinthetree—tops？whynot,havinglaininthelowbrushwood,seeknowtheloftyfoliage？whynotbuildnestswhereitwouldnotservetoscoophollows？Allthatthebirdscoulddo,theLittleOnescouldlearn——except,indeed,tofly！
Shespoketothemonthesubject,andtheyheardwithapproval。
Theycouldalreadyclimbthetrees,andtheyhadoftenwatchedthebirdsbuildingtheirnests！Thetreesoftheforest,althoughlarge,didnotlookbad！Theywentupmuchnearertheskythanthoseofthegiants,andspreadouttheirarms——someevenstretchedthemdown——asifinvitingthemtocomeandlivewiththem！Perhaps,inthetopofthetallest,theymightfindthatbirdthatlaidthebaby—eggs,andsatuponthemtilltheywereripe,thentumbledthemdowntoletthelittleonesout！Yes;theywouldbuildsleep—housesinthetrees,wherenogiantwouldseethem,forneverbyanychancedidonethrowbackhisdullheadtolookup！Thenthebadgiantswouldbesuretheyhadleftthecountry,andtheLittleOneswouldgathertheirownapplesandpearsandfigsandmesplesandpeacheswhentheywereasleep！
ThusreasonedtheLovers,andeagerlyadoptedLona\'ssuggestion——withtheresultthattheyweresoonasmuchathomeinthetree—topsasthebirdsthemselves,andthatthegiantscameerelongtotheconclusionthattheyhadfrightenedthemoutofthecountry——whereupontheyforgottheirtrees,andagainalmostceasedtobelieveintheexistenceoftheirsmallneighbours。
LonaaskedmewhetherIhadnotobservedthatmanyofthechildrenweregrown。IansweredIhadnot,butcouldreadilybelieveit。
Sheassuredmeitwasso,butsaidthecertainevidencethattheirmindstoohadgrownsincetheirmigrationupward,hadgonefarinmitigationofthealarmthediscoveryhadoccasionedher。
Inthelastoftheshorttwilight,andlaterwhenthemoonwasshining,theywentdowntothevalley,andgatheredfruitenoughtoservethemthenextday;forthegiantsneverwentoutinthetwilight:thattothemwasdarkness;andtheyhatedthemoon:hadtheybeenable,theywouldhaveextinguishedher。ButsoontheLittleOnesfoundthatfruitgatheredinthenightwasnotaltogethergoodthenextday;sothequestionarosewhetheritwouldnotbebetter,insteadofpretendingtohaveleftthecountry,tomakethebadgiantsthemselvesleaveit。
Theyhadalready,shesaid,inexploringtheforest,madeacquaintancewiththeanimalsinit,andwithmostofthempersonally。Knowingthereforehowstrongaswellaswiseanddocilesomeofthemwere,andhowswiftaswellasmanageablemanyothers,theynowsetthemselvestosecuretheiraidagainstthegiants,andwithloving,playfulapproaches,hadsoonmademorethanfriendsofmostofthem,fromthefirstaddressinghorseorelephantasBrotherorSisterElephant,BrotherorSisterHorse,untilbeforelongtheyhadanindividualnameforeach。ItwassomelittletimelongerbeforetheysaidBrotherorSisterBear,butthatcamenext,andtheotherdayshehadheardonelittlefellowcry,\"Ah,SisterSerpent！\"toasnakethatbithimasheplayedwithittooroughly。Mostofthemwouldhavenothingtodowithacaterpillar,exceptwatchitthroughitschanges;butwhenatlengthitcamefromitsretirementwithwings,allwouldimmediatelyaddressitasSisterButterfly,congratulatingitonitsmetamorphosis——forwhichtheyusedawordthatmeantsomethinglikeREPENTANCE——andevidentlyregardingitassomethingsacred。
Onemoonlitevening,astheyweregoingtogathertheirfruit,theycameuponawomanseatedonthegroundwithababyinherlap——thewomanIhadmetonmywaytoBulika。Theytookherforagiantessthathadstolenoneoftheirbabies,fortheyregardedallbabiesastheirproperty。Filledwithangertheyfelluponhermultitudinously,beatingherafterachildish,yetsufficientlybewilderingfashion。
Shewouldhavefled,butaboythrewhimselfdownandheldherbythefeet。Recoveringherwits,sherecognisedinherassailantsthechildrenwhosehospitalityshesought,andatonceyieldedthebaby。Lonaappeared,andcarrieditawayinherbosom。
Butwhilethewomannotedthatinstrikinghertheywerecarefulnottohurtthechild,theLittleOnesnotedthat,asshesurrenderedher,shehuggedandkissedherjustastheywantedtodo,andcametotheconclusionthatshemustbeagiantessofthesamekindasthegoodgiant。ThemomentLonahadthebaby,therefore,theybroughtthemotherfruit,andbegantoshowhereverysortofchildishattention。
Nowthewomanhadbeeninperplexitywhithertobetakeherself,notdaringtogobacktothecity,becausetheprincesswascertaintofindoutwhohadlamedherleopardess:delightedwiththefriendlinessofthelittlepeople,sheresolvedtoremainwiththemforthepresent:shewouldhavenotroublewithherinfant,andmightfindsomewayofreturningtoherhusband,whowasrichinmoneyandgems,andveryseldomunkindtoher。
HereImustsupplement,partlyfromconjecture,whatLonatoldmeaboutthewoman。WiththerestoftheinhabitantsofBulika,shewasawareofthetraditionthattheprincesslivedinterrorofthebirthofaninfantdestinedtoherdestruction。Theywereallunacquainted,however,withthefrightfulmeansbywhichshepreservedheryouthandbeauty;andherdeterioratingphysicalconditionrequiringalargeruseofthosemeans,theytooktheapparentincreaseofherhostilitytochildrenforasignthatshesawherdoomapproaching。This,althoughnoonedreamedofanyattemptagainsther,nourishedinthemhopesofchange。
Nowaroseinthemindofthewomantheideaoffurtheringthefulfilmentoftheshadowyprediction,orofusingthemythatleastforherownrestorationtoherhusband。Forwhatseemedmoreprobablethanthatthefateforetoldlaywiththeseverychildren？
Theyweremarvellouslybrave,andtheBulikanscowards,inabjectterrorofanimals！IfshecouldrouseintheLittleOnestheambitionoftakingthecity,thenintheconfusionoftheattack,shewouldescapefromthelittlearmy,reachherhouseunrecognised,andtherelyinghidden,awaittheresult！
Shouldthechildrennowsucceedinexpellingthegiants,shewouldbeginatonce,whiletheywereyetflushedwithvictory,tosuggesttheloftieraim！Bydisposition,indeed,theywereunfitforwarfare;theyhardlyeverquarrelled,andneverfought;lovedeverylivething,andhatedeithertohurtortosuffer。Still,theywereeasilyinfluenced,andcouldcertainlybetaughtanyexercisewithintheirstrength！——Atonceshesetsomeofthesmalleronesthrowingstonesatamark;andsoontheywereallengrossedwiththenewgame,andgrowingskilfulinit。
Thefirstpracticalresultwastheiruseofstonesinmyrescue。
Whilegatheringfruit,theyfoundmeasleep,wenthome,heldacouncil,camethenextdaywiththeirelephantsandhorses,overwhelmedthefewgiantswatchingme,andcarriedmeoff。Jubilantovertheirvictory,thesmallerboyswerechildishlyboastful,thebiggerboyslessostentatious,whilethegirls,althoughtheireyesflashedmore,werenotsotalkativeasusual。ThewomanofBulikanodoubtfeltencouraged。
Wetalkedthegreaterpartofthenight,chieflyaboutthegrowthofthechildren,andwhatitmightindicate。WithLona\'spowerofrecognisingtruthIhadlongbeenfamiliar;nowIbegantobeastonishedatherpracticalwisdom。Probably,hadIbeenmoreofachildmyself,Ishouldhavewonderedless。
ItwasyetfarfrommorningwhenIbecameawareofaslightflutteringandscrambling。Iroseonmyelbow,andlookingaboutme,sawmanyLittleOnesdescendfromtheirnests。Theydisappeared,andinafewmomentsallwasagainstill。
\"Whataretheydoing？\"Iasked。
\"Theythink,\"answeredLona,\"that,stupidastheyare,thegiantswillsearchthewood,andtheyaregonetogatherstoneswithwhichtoreceivethem。Stonesarenotplentifulintheforest,andtheyhavetoscatterfartofindenow。Theywillcarrythemtotheirnests,andfromthetreesattackthegiantsastheycomewithinreach。Knowingtheirhabits,theydonotexpectthembeforethemorning。Iftheydocome,itwillbetheopeningofawarofexpulsion:oneortheotherpeoplemustgo。Theresult,however,ishardlydoubtful。Wedonotmeantokillthem;indeed,theirskullsaresothickthatIdonotthinkwecould！——notthatkillingwoulddothemmuchharm;theyaresolittlealive！Ifonewerekilled,hisgiantesswouldnotrememberhimbeyondthreedays！\"
\"DothechildrenthenthrowsowellthatthethingMIGHThappen？\"
Iasked。
\"Waittillyouseethem！\"sheanswered,withatouchofpride。
\"——ButIhavenotyettoldyou,\"shewenton,\"ofastrangethingthathappenedthenightbeforelast！——Wehadcomehomefromgatheringourfruit,andwereasleepinournests,whenwewererousedbythehorridnoisesofbeastsfighting。Themoonwasbright,andinamomentourtreesglitteredwithstaringlittleeyes,watchingtwohugeleopardesses,oneperfectlywhite,theothercoveredwithblackspots,whichworriedandtoreeachotherwithIdonotknowhowmanyteethandclaws。Tojudgebyherback,thespottedcreaturemusthavebeenclimbingatreewhentheotherspranguponher。WhenfirstIsawthem,theywerejustundermyowntree,rollingoverandovereachother。Igotdownonthelowestbranch,andsawthemperfectly。Thechildrenenjoyedthespectacle,sidingsomewiththisone,somewiththat,forwehadneverseensuchbeastsbefore,andthoughttheywereonlyatplay。Butbydegreestheirroaringandgrowlingalmostceased,andIsawthattheywereindeadlyearnest,andheartilywishedneithermightbeleftabletoclimbatree。Butwhenthechildrensawthebloodpouringfromtheirflanksandthroats,whatdoyouthinktheydid？Theyscurrieddowntocomfortthem,andgatheringinagreatcrowdabouttheterriblecreatures,begantopatandstrokethem。ThenIgotdownaswell,fortheyweremuchtooabsorbedtoheedmycallingtothem;butbeforeIcouldreachthem,thewhiteonestoppedfighting,andsprangamongthemwithsuchahideousyellthattheyflewupintothetreeslikebirds。BeforeIgotbackintomine,thewickedbeastswereatitagaintoothandclaw。ThenWhiteyhadthebestofit;Spottyranawayasfastasshecouldrun,andWhiteycameandlaydownatthefootofmytree。Butinaminuteortwoshewasupagain,andwalkingaboutasifshethoughtSpottymightbelurkingsomewhere。
Iwakedoften,andeverytimeIlookedout,Isawher。Inthemorningshewentaway。\"
\"Iknowboththebeasts,\"Isaid。\"Spottyisabadbeast。Shehatesthechildren,andwouldkilleveryoneofthem。ButWhiteylovesthem。Sheranatthemonlytofrightenthemaway,lestSpottyshouldgetholdofanyofthem。NooneneedsbeafraidofWhitey！\"
BythistimetheLittleOneswerecomingback,andwithmuchnoise,fortheyhadnocaretokeepquietnowthattheywereatopenwarwiththegiants,andladenwithgoodstones。Theymountedtotheirnestsagain,thoughwithdifficultybecauseoftheirburdens,andinaminutewerefastasleep。Lonaretiredtohertree。IlaywhereIwas,andsleptthebetterthatIthoughtmostlikelythewhiteleopardesswasstillsomewhereinthewood。
Iwokesoonafterthesun,andlaypondering。Twohourspassed,andthenintruththegiantsbegantoappear,instragglingcompaniesofthreeandfour,untilIcountedoverahundredofthem。Thechildrenwerestillasleep,andtocallthemwoulddrawtheattentionofthegiants:Iwouldkeepquietsolongastheydidnotdiscoverme。
Butbyandbyonecameblunderinguponme,stumbled,fell,androseagain。Ithoughthewouldpassheedless,buthebegantosearchabout。Isprangtomyfeet,andstruckhiminthemiddleofhishugebody。Theroarhegaverousedthechildren,andastormasofhailinstantlycameon,ofwhichnotastonestruckme,andnotonemissedthegiant。Hefellandlay。Othersdrewnear,andthestormextended,eachpurblindcreaturebecoming,asheenteredtherangeofagarrisonedtree,atargetforconvergingstones。Inashorttimealmosteverygiantwasprostrate,andajubilantp鎍nofbird—songrosefromthetopsoffiftytrees。
Manyelephantscamehurryingup,andthechildrendescendingthetreeslikemonkeys,inamomenteveryelephanthadthreeorfourofthemonhisback,andthusloaded,begantowalkoverthegiants,wholayandroared。Losingpatienceatlengthwiththeirnoise,theelephantsgavethemafewblowsoftheirtrunks,andleftthem。
Untilnightthebadgiantsremainedwheretheyhadfallen,silentandmotionless。Thenextmorningtheyhaddisappearedeveryone,andthechildrensawnomoreofthem。Theyremovedtotheotherendoftheorchardvalley,andneverafterventuredintotheforest。
CHAPTERXXXIV
PREPARATION
Victorythusgained,thewomanofBulikabegantospeakaboutthecity,andtalkedmuchofitsdefencelesscondition,ofthewickednessofitsprincess,ofthecowardiceofitsinhabitants。InafewdaysthechildrenchatteredofnothingbutBulika,althoughindeedtheyhadnottheleastnotionofwhatacitywas。ThenfirstI
becameawareofthedesignofthewoman,althoughnotyetofitsmotive。
Theideaoftakingpossessionoftheplace,recommendeditselfgreatlytoLona——andtomealso。Thechildrenwerenowsorapidlydevelopingfaculty,thatIcouldseenoseriousobstacletothesuccessoftheenterprise。FortheterribleLilith——womanorleopardess,Iknewheronevulnerablepoint,herdoomthroughherdaughter,andtheinfluencetheancientprophecyhaduponthecitizens:surelywhateverintheenterprisecouldbecalledrisk,wasworthtaking！Successful,——andwhocoulddoubttheirsuccess？——mustnottheLittleOnes,fromacrowdofchildren,speedilybecomeayouthfulpeople,whosegovernmentandinfluencewouldbeallforrighteousness？Rulingthewickedwitharodofiron,wouldtheynotbetheredemptionofthenation？
Atthesametime,IhavetoconfessthatIwasnotwithoutviewsofpersonaladvantage,notwithoutambitionintheundertaking。Itwasjust,itseemedtome,thatLonashouldtakeherseatonthethronethathadbeenhermother\'s,andnaturalthatsheshouldmakeofmeherconsortandminister。Forme,Iwouldspendmylifeinherservice;andbetweenus,whatmightwenotdo,withsuchacoretoitastheLittleOnes,forthedevelopmentofanoblestate？
Iconfessalsotoanaltogetherfoolishdreamofopeningacommerceingemsbetweenthetwoworlds——happilyimpossible,foritcouldhavedonenothingbutharmtoboth。
CallingtomindtheappealofAdam,IsuggestedtoLonathattofindthemwatermightperhapsexpeditethegrowthoftheLittleOnes。Shejudgeditprudent,however,toleavethataloneforthepresent,aswedidnotknowwhatitsfirstconsequencesmightbe;
while,inthecourseoftime,itwouldalmostcertainlysubjectthemtoanewnecessity。
\"Theyarewhattheyarewithoutit！\"shesaid:\"whenwehavethecity,wewillsearchforwater！\"
Webegan,therefore,andpushedforwardourpreparations,constantlyreviewingthemerrytroopsandcompanies。Lonagaveherattentionchieflytothecommissariat,whileIdrilledthelittlesoldiers,exercisedtheminstone—throwing,taughtthemtheuseofsomeotherweapons,anddidallIcouldtomakewarriorsofthem。Themaindifficultywastogetthemtorallytotheirflagtheinstantthecallwassounded。Mostofthemwerearmedwithslings,someofthebiggerboyswithbowsandarrows。Thebiggergirlscarriedaloe—spikes,strongassteelandsharpasneedles,fittedtolongishshafts——ratherformidableweapons。Theirsoledutywasthechargeofsuchasweretoosmalltofight。
Lonahadherselfgrownagooddeal,butdidnotseemawareofit:
shehadalwaysbeen,asshestillwas,thetallest！Herhairwasmuchlonger,andshewasbecomealmostawoman,butnotonebeautyofchildhoodhadsheoutgrown。Whenfirstwemetafterourlongseparation,shelaiddownherinfant,putherarmsroundmyneck,andclungtomesilent,herfaceglowingwithgladness:thechildwhimpered;shesprangtohim,andhadhiminherbosominstantly。
Toseeherwithanythoughtless,obstinate,orirritablelittleone,wastothinkofatendergrandmother。Iseemedtohaveknownherforages——foralways——frombeforetimebegan！Ihardlyrememberedmymother,butinmymind\'seyeshenowlookedlikeLona;andifI
imaginedsisterorchild,invariablyshehadthefaceofLona！Myeveryimaginationflewtoher;shewasmyheart\'swife！Shehardlyeversoughtme,butwasalmostalwayswithinsoundofmyvoice。WhatIdidorthought,Ireferredconstantlytoher,andrejoicedtobelievethat,whiledoingherworkinabsoluteindependence,shewasmostathomebymyside。Neverformedidsheneglectthesmallestchild,andmyloveonlyquickenedmysenseofduty。Toloveherandtodomyduty,seemed,notindeedone,butinseparable。
ShemightsuggestsomethingIshoulddo;shemightaskmewhatsheoughttodo;butsheneverseemedtosupposethatI,anymorethanshe,wouldliketodo,orcouldcareaboutanythingexceptwhatmustbedone。Herloveoverfloweduponme——notincaresses,butinaclosenessofrecognitionwhichIcancomparetonothingbutthedevotionofadivineanimal。
Inevertoldheranythingabouthermother。
Thewoodwasfullofbirds,thesplendourofwhoseplumage,whileittooknothingfromtheirsong,seemedalmosttomakeupforthelackofflowers——which,apparently,couldnotgrowwithoutwater。
Theirgloriousfeathersbeingeverywhereaboutintheforest,itcameintomyhearttomakefromthemagarmentforLona。WhileI
gathered,andboundtheminoverlappingrows,shewatchedmewithevidentappreciationofmychoiceandarrangement,neveraskingwhatIwasfashioning,butevidentlywaitingexpectanttheresultofmywork。Inaweekortwoitwasfinished——alongloosemantle,tofastenatthethroatandwaist,withopeningsforthearms。
Iroseandputitonher。Sherose,tookitoff,andlaiditatmyfeet——Iimaginefromasenseofpropriety。Iputitagainonhershoulders,andshowedherwheretoputherarmsthrough。Shesmiled,lookedatthefeathersalittleandstrokedthem——againtookitoffandlaiditdown,thistimebyherside。Whensheleftme,shecarrieditwithher,andIsawnomoreofitforsomedays。
Atlengthshecametomeonemorningwearingit,andcarryinganothergarmentwhichshehadfashionedsimilarly,butofthedriedleavesofatoughevergreen。Ithadthestrengthalmostofleather,andtheappearanceofscale—armour。Iputitonatonce,andwealwaysthereafterworethosegarmentswhenonhorseback。
For,ontheoutskirtsoftheforest,hadappearedonedayatroopoffull—grownhorses,withwhich,astheywerenowisealarmedatcreaturesofashapesodifferentfromtheirown,Ihadsoonmadefriends,andtwoofthefinestIhadtrainedforLonaandmyself。
Alreadyaccustomedtorideasmallone,herdelightwasgreatwhenfirstshelookeddownfromthebackofananimalofthegiantkind;
andthehorseshowedhimselfproudoftheburdenhebore。Weexercisedthemeverydayuntiltheyhadsuchconfidenceinusastoobeyinstantlyandfearnothing;afterwhichwealwaysrodethematparadeandonthemarch。
Theundertakingdidindeedattimesappeartomeafoolhardyone,buttheconfidenceofthewomanofBulika,realorsimulated,alwaysovercamemyhesitancy。Theprincess\'smagic,sheinsisted,wouldprovepowerlessagainstthechildren;andastoanyforceshemightmuster,ouranimal—alliesalonewouldassureoursuperiority:
shewasherself,shesaid,ready,withagoodstick,toencounteranytwomenofBulika。Sheconfessedtonotalittlefearoftheleopardess,butIwasmyselfreadyforher。Ishrank,however,fromcarryingALLthechildrenwithus。
\"Woulditnotbebetter,\"Isaid,\"thatyouremainedintheforestwithyourbabyandthesmallestoftheLittleOnes？\"
Sheansweredthatshegreatlyreliedontheimpressionthesightofthemwouldmakeonthewomen,especiallythemothers。
\"Whentheyseethedarlings,\"shesaid,\"theirheartswillbetakenbystorm;andImustbethereencouragingthemtomakeastand！Iftherebearemnantofhardihoodintheplace,itwillbefoundamongthewomen！\"
\"YOUmustnotencumberyourself,\"IsaidtoLona,\"withanyofthechildren;youwillbewantedeverywhere！\"
Forthereweretwobabiesbesidesthewoman\'s,andevenonhorsebackshehadalmostalwaysoneinherarms。
\"Idonotremembereverbeingwithoutachildtotakecareof,\"sheanswered;\"butwhenwereachthecity,itshallbeasyouwish！\"
Herconfidenceinonewhohadfailedsounworthily,shamedme。ButneitherhadIinitiatedthemovement,norhadIanygroundforopposingit;Ihadnochoice,butmustgiveitthebesthelpI
could！Formyself,IwasreadytoliveordiewithLona。Herhumilityaswellashertrusthumbledme,andIgavemyselfheartilytoherpurposes。
Ourwaylyingacrossagrassyplain,therewasnoneedtotakefoodforthehorses,orthetwocowswhichwouldaccompanyusfortheinfants;buttheelephantshadtobeprovidedfor。True,thegrasswasasgoodforthemasforthoseotheranimals,butitwasshort,andwiththeirone—fingeredlongnoses,theycouldnotpickenoughforasinglemeal。Wehad,therefore,setthewholecolonytogathergrassandmakehay,ofwhichtheelephantsthemselvescouldcarryaquantitysufficienttolastthemseveraldays,withthesupplementofwhatwewouldgatherfresheverytimewehalted。Forthebearswestorednuts,andforourselvesdriedplentyoffruits。