From a book categorized as Fiction / Action & Adventure and 940 pages follows a description and a number of hidden haikus found in the book:
I do not suppose that anyone who knows the name of Allan Quatermain would be likely to associate it with flowers, and especially with orchids. Yet as it happens it was once my lot to take part in an orchid hunt of so remarkable a character that I think its details should not be lost. At least I will set them down, and if in the after days anyone cares to publish them, well--he is at liberty to do so.
It was in the year--oh! never mind the year, it was a long while ago when I was much younger, that I went on a hunting expedition to the north of the Limpopo River which borders the Transvaal. My companion was a gentleman of the name of Scroope, Charles Scroope. He had come out to Durban from England in search of sport. At least, that was one of his reasons. The other was a lady whom I will call Miss Margaret Manners, though that was not her name.
It seems that these two were engaged to be married, and really attached to each other. Unfortunately, however, they quarrelled violently about another gentlemen with whom Miss Manners danced four consecutive dances, including two that were promised to her fiancé at a Hunt ball in Essex, where they all lived. Explanations, or rather argument, followed. Mr. Scroope said that he would not tolerate such conduct. Miss Manners replied that she would not be dictated to; she was her own mistress and meant to remain so. Mr. Scroope exclaimed that she might so far as he was concerned. She answered that she never wished to see his face again. He declared with emphasis that she never should and that he was going to Africa to shoot elephants.
He wore a long, white
cloak reaching from his shoulders
almost to the ground.
I have forgotten
most of them, but one lady
I do remember.
gentlemen, let us
get on a little faster.
Thank you, sir--fifteen.
“It is a strange thing,”
I said, “that Brother John should
never have turned up.
The others sat round
perfectly silent and watched
with rapt attention.
To-day is enough
for me without studying
next month and next year.
“Yes,” replied Stephen,
“but perhaps just a little
bombastic in tone.
Once the Arabs got
behind us, they could rake us
from the higher ground.
“It is gone,” he said
in an amazed voice after
feeling at his scalp.
And how could we face
that or some other frightful
brute without firearms?
You shall go to be
avenged on him if you can,
and then we shall learn.
If ever you should
return to the Earth again,
be advised by me.
They were huge and ran
up for fifty or sixty
feet without a bough.
You will be in less
danger from the lightning there,
where are no tall trees.
It fell from his hand.
He seemed to shrink together,
and moved no more. Oh!
This meant that they must
cover four miles of water,
while we covered three.