The Leopard Woman
y tired, and Kingozi considered it advisable to let them rest. They had covered probably thirty-five miles. Cazi Moto had found no water, and no traces of water. Furthermore, the game had thinned
e plains used to line the flight of bees. The tank proved to be a deep, hidden recess far back under over
ater. It is an unknown
w f
r ho
stowed on him the wo
act, but just across the little dry stream-bed.
t bush, thicket, or clump of grass. Such a camp straggles abominably. But here was no such confusion. Back from the water-hole a hundred yards, atop a slight rise, and under the thickest of the trees, stood a large green tent with a projecting fly. A huge pile of firewood had been dumped
across the in
g variety. On a spread of figured blue cloth stood a bottle of lime juice, a sparklets, and an enamelwar
ch the thin silk defined. Her figure in the long chair fell into sinuous, graceful, relaxed lines. As he approached she looked at him over the glowing cigarette; and her eyes seemed
lf to himself, half to his co
-chui_--the Leopard Woman-- was the name by whi
any way, but turned her
na_; bring cigarettes; brin
imself establis
. The soft silk fell in new lines about her, defining new curves.
ned, so I had the porters beaten. That was horrid, was it not? Do you understand it? I suppose not. Men have no nerves, like women. T
ankles below her robe. She observed him with slanted eyes, and a
f fever mosquitoes i
d eyebrows, with their perpetual air of surprise, move
here are no people here. When in the fever country I have my 'rig'"--subtly she shaded the word--"
e that one uses to instruct a child, but with
zi la
m interested. It is difficult to realize that a
of his face broke into wrinkles of laughter; his steady eyes twinkled; his smile showed strong white
have instructed me about my marching; you have even instructed me about my clo
" he smiled; "but rea
urned on her elbow to face him. "Listen! I
d raised the ciga
t her speechless with surpris
ame respectful consideration you a
in genuine
continued Kingozi. "A wom
other words, what in--what- you-call? Oh, yes
a wide-eyed stare.
n--in hell _are_ y
find that which people tell me cannot be done, that I do--at once. My lif
id Kingozi, but he
I came to Africa, and in Africa I have done what they tell me women have never done. I have travelled in the Kameroons, in Nyassaland, in Somaliland, in Abyssinia. Then they tell me--'yes, that is very well, but you follow a tr
gesticulation, her eyes flashing. In proportion as she beca
of adventure, and all that sort of
ha
ed his
ur
im a barely appr
ual way--fro
ibes," Kingozi replied blandly. "So you are pushing
pleases me
produced
e deliberately filled and lighted it.
you say, is un
cour
ternoon that you knew of this w
him in obviously assumed innocence. She ex
, "you were not mistak
ngozi turn
he replied naively. "Women alway
h--uncomfortably,
men!" With one of her sudden smooth movements she again
e replied e
oth la
was succeeded by another on a different key. The two took up a kind of antiphony, one against the oth
that rhino," remarked
they listened to th
even yet for this afternoon," she sai
e there; and l
nderful shot at that distance
good luck," replie
y his tone,
y many to be the be
nced a
at a mistake. For w
ced the name slowly, syllable by syllable, as t
lau
. I am known as Ki
not Cul-b
leases you to have
darling, pouting at him i
me. For that I shall n
not matte
now! B
many t
it then?
is strong bronze face cast into the wistful lines of the savage countenance in repose. The lions had evidently compounded their quarrel. Only an occasional rasping cough testified to their presence. But in the direction of the de
i_," he told
her red lower lip cau
known! You, Kingozi--the Bearded One; I, Bibi-ya-chui--the
l about each ot
it, but I have asked few. What do you do in this strange
am an ivor
o find the el
--or ivory
the magic pass, and presto! it is in M
ut you see my habit is to get my ivory first and then to get _shenzis_ fr
next to say. Kingozi perceived a dancing temptatio
aid finally in
e is a keen one," he reflected admiringly. "Ca
et, knocking the a
-morrow?" he a
have not
course you will not risk a blind push with so many men.
d gravely; but Kingozi thought
sed hi
oy
d from one of the s
i abruptly wished he
she replied
l stars blazed above him like candles. K
ly not exactly the impression the Leopard Wo