Samba

d Br

ute, and Mr. Martindale's party had carried with them only a few days' provisions, and the "extras" necessary for the white men's comfort. But now they were come to a less populous pa

inence on which the camp was pitched, they saw a canoe, manned by six padd

," he said; "I wond

ass; then, looking ahead, his eye was caught by a herd of eight or nin

hippo meat? It will relieve the drain on our store

ep the larder full at any rate. I supp

eemed pretty bold; they've such tough hides that they'

e up to them and s

time they arrived opposite the feeding ground several hippos had come out from the reeds for a bath in the shallows of the rive

ws are great gluttons, but there's enough meat in one of those beasts

t," suggested Jack. "Fire toge

s a fool's trick anyway. We'll aim at t

, knowing the ways of hippopotami, began to paddle with frantic vigour, and set the canoe going at a rapid pace down stream, much to the indignation of Pat, who stood with his forefeet on the side of the canoe, barking fiercely. Half a minute later a head

'em a quarter of an hour to settle down, then

ack with a rueful smile. "An awful fluke, though;

shot or pull off a good stroke at billiards or anything else, it's real goo

him, anyway. The hi

oy; he's only just

hippo, barking with excitement, and becoming frantic when he found that it was just out of his reach. In his eagerness to attack the animal he even made an att

aid Mr. Martindale. "Shall we go ba

antly. "Tie rope; pull, pull;

y well. I allow t

the water at the stern. But they had only a part of the usual complement of men on board, and the paddlers were among the most skilful on the Congo. They had gone but a few strokes when Jack, glancing back, caught sight of Imbono's canoe returning

a hippo's after t

ng along in pursuit. For a little he gained, and Jack's pulse beat more quickly with excitement as he saw that the enraged beast was not mor

of the crew dropped his paddle, and, catching up a spear, hurled it at the pursuing hippo. There was a hoarse bellow from the animal, and a wild cheer from the men; the shaft of the spear was seen standi

spear, a submerged tree stopped the canoe with a sudden jerk; the man lost his balance and fell overboard; half of the crew followed him into the water, the rest tumbled over one another into the bottom of the canoe. Imbono had been

irections, keeping as much as possible under water to escape the eyes of the hippo; but Imbono, an older man than the rest, was

did not look behind, but seemed to know instinctively that death was within

ntly broad, indeed; but Jack knew that to strike it anywhere save at a vital spot would merely add to the beast's rage and make it doubly formidable to the men in the water. When he saw the plight of the chief, however, the great head now only a couple of yards behind him, the jaws al

were just about to snap, when a shot rang out. A squealing grunt came from the closing gullet; the

rtindale. "That makes u

the bank, but the chief himself, overcome more by his fr

id Mr. Martindale. "There may

he chief. Laughing heartily-the negro's laugh is always very nea

ughter die of shame,

for?" asked M

ade big puddle in massa's ca

we're glad he came off so well. You n

spoke the chief glanced at the pool of water that had flowed f

for shooting de hippo; say he gib massa de hippo and manioc and bananas and anyfing whatever dat massa like.

ack's already, of course. As for becoming his blood brothers, I don't just know right off wh

e surface. On landing the chief renewed his protestations of gratitude, then went off to the village, to polish himself up, said Nando, and replace his ruined headdress, a curious structure of cloth and feathers stuc

cle," cried Jack. "Wha

ughed across the full brea

the skull. I suppose he hid in the reeds, and vented his fury on the chief. He happe

until he had watched a big cloud of smoke float a

st

at he had not the be

nd fruit, a quantity large enough to supply the camp for several days. That night the men

ye may be sure, meat being the price it was-'twas wan tiny morsel uv mutton, and a powerful lot uv murphies: she

e laughed at

ir tempers," he said; "I only hope they won't keep

th time the exciting events of the day, and composing on the spot songs in praise of the young white man whose fire-stick had slai

y Im

h! Im

aved

od str

ung st

ave st

d J

g Ja

e Ja

me to

y Il

y Il

ved I

five

ten h

y Im

y Im

h! Im

t. His arms were covered with polished brass rings, and copper rings weighing at least ten pounds each encircled his wrists and ankles. A new headdress decked his hair; and he must have

y, calling off the excited dog. "

ounting, as it appeared, for every tooth in the jaws of the huge animal from which he had been saved. He went on to say that in gratitude to the white man he had changed his mind. No longer would he withhold food; his young men even now had their hands full of the best

down obliged to him for agreeing to show me the location of the gold. And what's this blood

ab got knife too: he scratch Imbono him arm all same, lick Imbono him blood. Me fink massa not like black man him blood-not berrah berrah much. Den massa gib Imbono little tiny presen

iness sounds rather disgusti

ade a

ve all the licki

show de way. Massa hold Imbono him arm tight, berrah tight, pretend

with that I'm wil

tindale and a lucifer match from Jack, Nando assuring them that no more acceptable presents could have been thought of. Imbono recited a sort of chant, which was explained to mean that he, his sons, his fr

had gone that Nando's face w

matter, Nand

massa hab got present all same; Nando hab got no present, no nuffin. Dat make N

saction," said Mr. Martindale with a smile. "G

cle; he can string that round

ok the coin

sick no more. Him plenty comfy insi

lly fo