Henry Rider Haggard: Allan Quatermain (Unabridged)
Allan Quatermain
Introduction
In the centre of the room, however…
And so the balance sways and the story runs…
Chapter 1: The Consul's Yarn
'Listen, old fellow,' went on Sir Henry…
'Well, where are you gentlemen steering for?' asked our friend…
The tall man (who among his own people was commonly…)
I shook my head at him.
Chapter 2: The Black Hand
After the first day Good succeeded, with the help of some cloth…
'Hulloa!' holloaed Sir Henry from the other boat.
Just then, too, although all the other sounds of the forest had ceased…
Chapter 3: The Mission Station
In half an hour more we were once again making fair progress…
Crossing over a plank and through a very narrow opening in the wall…
When dinner was over we lit our pipes…
Chapter 4: Alphonse and His Annette
Just as I returned his axe to Umslopogaas…
As Umslopogaas, savage old Zulu that he was…
Alphonse stopped weeping, and began to rub his back.
Chapter 5: Umslopogaas Makes a Promise
For a moment Umslopogaas looked up from his sharpening…
Shortly after this, the people whom Mr. Mackenzie had sent out…
The door was unbarred.
Meanwhile I had been thinking rapidly, as one does in emergencies…
'Dearest Father and Mother,' ran the note…
Chapter 6: The Night Wears On
'It is well,' went on Mr. Mackenzie.
It so happened that Mr. Mackenzie had in his little store…
It was now nearly one o'clock in the morning…
Chapter 7: A Slaughter Grim and Great
Presently Umslopogaas, who was a few paces ahead of me…
When I was two-thirds up I halted…
I soon got the magazine of the repeater filled again with cartridges…
I myself did not go into the melee…
Chapter 8: Alphonse Explains
At the kraal entrance the scene was a strange one.
It struck me as an odd thing that a girl who could find the nerve…
Accordingly we brought him to the tree where he had hidden…
Chapter 9: Into the Unknown
We also promised to give him wages…
Thence we proceeded a distance of about a hundred and fifty miles…
As we were paddling leisurely along…
Up went the swans, circling ever higher till at last they were mere specks…
Chapter 10: The Rose of Fire
'Well, let us hope for the best and prepare ourselves for the worst,'…
On we rushed towards this pillar of fire…
'My word,' called out Good, who was on shore the first…
'I say, you fellows, let's get out of this or we shall all go off our heads.'
Chapter 11: The Frowning City
Just then, however, the others woke up…
So we hailed back in English, French…
Good did not much like this allusion to his fat…
Curiosity now began to overcome the fear of the onlookers…
On the brow of this precipice stood a great building…
Chapter 12: The Sister Queens
On we went up the first flight of one hundred and twenty steps…
In the exact centre of the hall was a solid mass of black marble…
I have seen beautiful women in my day…
'Oh, my word!' thought I to myself…
When they were all gone she bent forward…
Chapter 13: About the Zu-Vendi People
The best bred people in the country are, as I think I have said…
Zu-Vendis has had its king-makers as well as England…
The law of the country is, on the whole, mild and just…
And now comes a question which I find some difficulty in answering.
Chapter 14: The Flower Temple
As soon as we were seated the driver called out…
Overcome at so awe-inspiring a sight, the vast loveliness…
As we appeared there was a murmur through the vast crowd…
There is silence upon the face of the Earth and the waters thereof!
As he spoke a wonderful and a beautiful thing happened.
Then Sorais made answer in her deep quiet tones…
Chapter 15: Sorais' Song
On other days we would pay visits to the country seats…
Next day we were much more lively…
That night, when in fear and trembling we attended the royal…
Another source of imminent danger to us was the rising envy…
Chapter 16: Before the Statue
'Thou sayest thou dost love me,' she said in a low voice…
I found the old warrior leaning on Inkosi-kaas as usual…
This reading and signing of the laws took a long time…
Chapter 17: The Storm Breaks
From the direction of the quarters of the maids of honour…
At last, whether it was her gaze, or the perfume in her hair…
I gained audience of the Queen without trouble.
Here we heard from Alphonse, who was deeply aggrieved…
Chapter 18: War! Red War!
This incident was unimportant enough in itself…
Just then Sir Henry joined us, and Good arrived, too…
Throughout this long and eloquent address Good had been…
Up she rose and, descending from the throne…
'And I tell ye strangers - all save Bougwan…'
Chapter 19: A Strange Wedding
Now, as it happened, Agon had been hurried away that morning…
It may, perhaps, be remembered…
Well, that night Good and I messed as I have said in solitary grandeur…
Chapter 20: The Battle of the Pass
The main body of the army reached the neck about dinner-time…
And at last up came the red sun…
And so, notwithstanding all that we could do, the enemy drew nearer…
Just then we saw the smaller bodies of cavalry stationed on…
Chapter 21: Away! Away!
Leaving Umslopogaas to hold the horses, I hobbled to the spring…
On, clattering through the sleeping streets.
Chapter 22: How Umslopogaas Held the Stair
Just then, to my astonishment, the Zu-Vendi officer Kara…
For a moment the black-bearded Nasta stood with bowed face…
A gasp of wonder and astonishment rose from all those who…
I laughed, or rather tried to.
Chapter 23: I Have Spoken
'Methinks my sister the Queen hath forgotten the chief count…'
And I thank thee, my Lord Incubu…
It is a week since I wrote the above, and now I take up my pen…
Chapter 24: By Another Hand
'At last,' he gasped, with an attempt at a smile…
Since then things have gone very well with us.
Note by George Curtis Esq.
