The Leopard Woman

efore him. They were drinking eagerly from water bottles. Simba, lantern in hand, stood nearby. A number of savages carrying crude torches ho

e many _s

leaves of the

uts ar

_bwana_, in

_ are good?"--m

He has many people, and much riches. He has told, his peo

d, Si

bwana_. But I had water, and the people

hirst," suggested Kingozi, "and ma

a_, and take the

n emptied. Mali-ya-bwana and, unexpectedly, a big Kavirondo of Kingo

, her lips had paled; only the long white oval of her face recalled her former splendid and exotic beauty. When the signal

done," she mut

knelt at her side and felt her pulse. Without hesitation, and in the most matter-of-f

" he co

e beat her vigorously below the left br

ngozi, and began clumsil

d been exposed, and she snatched her garments together. Kingozi, wat

ou're about again. B

either side supported t

suddenly to have been thrust upward a million miles. The open plain narrowed to a track along which they grop

d about them, shining naked people, who stared; and there seemed to be huts with conical roofs, and a number of little winking fires that shifted position. The people led the way to a circular hut of good size, with a

msahib_ here,"

d. Kingozi took her in his

rass," h

hili, and turned into a strange tongue.

her out there in the Thirst arose before his eyes. At that time it had not registered: he was too busy about serious things. But now, while he waited, the incident claimed, belated, his senses. His antagonism, or distrust, or coldness, or suspicion, or indifference, or whatever had hardened him, disappeared. He stared straight before him at the lantern, allowing these thoughts and sensations to drift through him. Subconsciously he noted that the lamp flame showed a halo, or rather two halos, one red and one green. By experience he knew that this portended one of his stabbing hea

f mountainous country. Under Kingozi's directions they heaped it at one side. He assisted the L

hese activities zealously. He had drunk his fill, had bolted a chunk of goat's flesh

l eat?"

drink the water unboiled--it is unsafe to drink any African water unboiled--but this time it could not be helped. He was not even v

d water, and would camp s

leep," he

n of the author of these lines went single handed and stopped in its very inception a royal _n'goma_, or dance, to which men had come a day's journey, merely because his _bwana_ wanted to sleep! Ki

the sweet night wind blew through freely; and elusively he saw stars against the night. The Le

he Africans call a _kalele_--a compound of chatter, the noise of occupation, of movement, the

he sh

ed to enter the doorway. Cazi Moto was dressed in clean khaki, and bore in his ha

ully. "I did not expect to see you,

_bwa

he men of the

bwana_; but m

arose to

od. These _shen

ready,

hauri_ with these people to get o

ana_," sai

aced him, the flaps thrown back to show within his cot and tin box. White porters' tents had been pitched in the usual circle, and before each squatted men cook

ood at his e

and for the first time Kingozi notice

" said he. "_Backsheeshi m'kubwa_ fo

ater, and it saved us; and I thought that my _bwana_ shoul

n the loads? N

na_, the

wrist watch. It was o

t ni

t back la

that it was bad to leave the loads. Ther

with satisfaction. This wa

ya-bwana,"

Baganda a

load. You will be--" he hesitated, trying to invent an office, but reluctant to infringe upon the prerogatives of either Simba o

are heels together, he raised his hand in a military salute. Ki

arn to do that?"

the King's Afri

e, Mali-ya-bwana gave the n

n shoot

_bwa

zi thoughtfully. Then a

e more and departed. King

this Cazi Moto was bearing steaming dishes. The threatened headache had not materialized, and Kingozi was feeling quite fit. He was ravenously hungry, for now his system was rested enough to a

ings set before him. After this he drank all he wanted from the tall _balauri_. Second courses did not exi

tains rose rather abruptly, just beyond the plateau; which, in turn, fell away almost as abruptly to the sweep of the plains. The bench was of considerable width--probably a mile at this point. It was not entirely level; but on the other hand not particularly broken. A number of fine, symmetri

i examined them keenly, with curiosity. Naked little boys and girls wandered gravely about; women clung

up to the size of a jampot. There were some, but not many, armlets, leglets, and necklets of iron wire polished to the appearance of silver. The women wore brief skirts of softened skins: the men carried a short shoulder cape, or simply nothing at all. Each man bore a long-bladed heavy spear. Before squatting down in front of whatever engaged his attenti

e of softened skins. Followed him a younger man, dangling at the end of a thong a small three-legged stool cut entire from a single block of wood. The old ma

sat, and uttered a greeting in Swahili. He pro

!_" he

a moment; then, without removing h

amb

miling, extend

can tribes shake hands

owl of his pipe, conti

ultani?_" he de

ed his hand in

swered in very bad Swahili; "I

e younger man had loosed the thong from his wrist and had placed the stool on a level s

s pipe from his li

. "If you are not the _sultani_

to him in silence. The visitor concluded his remarks which--as far as they could be understood--were enti

ng me eggs," he said,

rt of flour groun

st dignified retreat possible through the

m of conversation swept through the squatting warriors. Those who understood Swahili murmured ea

zi demanded, abruptly conscious that

a-chui

e is

an's voice in amused tones. "You have b

ed in a bare spot close to the trunk of

ssed, "and I don't believe I sa

rt of flour groun

t to be wondered at.

fit, thanks

colour had come back to her lips, the light to her expression. Only a faint dark encirclin

ut perishing for a cig

use them. Are not al

of t

hortly. Cazi Moto has give

dy has yet gon

y. "Why did you not start men fo

d at him

ey were very tired from ye

called

uh

ya-chui. Is he that mop-hea

he is just a faithful creature

your orde

_aska

ch o

. "Don't look at me in that fas

r run a safari in that way. Si

s errand. Kingozi tu

woman; but you do not know this game well enough. I acknowledge you will handle this show ordinarily i

k so," she replied wit

nearly died from lack of water--By the way, why didn'

o get my

her with mo

it. And now, I beg of yo

ing all done?" she

did not mean it

s on her knees, her chin in her hand

a dry country. I want you to know that you are quite right, and I want to tell you that I know you saved me and my men: and I wou

ve of kindly feeling overwhelmed the last suspicions--absurd suspicions--his analysis had made. He was prevented from replying by the approach of Simba at the head of eight of the _

e other four?

enzis'_ village. One

ns. Bring that one man before me with the chains on

Kingozi resumed his conversa

and," said he. "We

?_" she

ave rather overdone

much talk of our men about it. He is a very powerful chief-- next to the _sultani_.

e have yo

goats, fat-tailed sheep, and some few cattle. They raise _m'wembe

ened to her

se your intelligence. These

is old

mind. I have merely convinced him that I am ev

next? Call on

omes. If he does not come by,

ons. Kingozi waved his hand toward those waiting

nzis_. Tell the other three _askaris_ to com

ed beyond expression, started off joyfull

to do?" asked the Le

ingozi carelessly. "I feel rather l

al. And I am keep

thout one. This tree is

e in those tentative explorations of personality so fascinating in the early stages of acquaintanceship. To her inquiries Kingozi repeated that he was an ivory hunter and tra

very young,"

al school to put me into the ministry. I

you come

aling ship. Sailed the seven seas after the brute

him hard, an

gun! You loaded it with about a peck of black powder. Normally, of course, it shot a harpoon, but you could very near cram a nigger baby down it! And kick! If you were the l

hy you wear it

ha

ing;

iece of ordnance took me the length of

about t

m on. He told of the great river and its people, and the white men who administered it. The subject of cannibals seemed es

with the other

m the ground and

m afraid I shall have to

waiting line of _askaris_, and planted himself squarely in it

_askari_. You are a common porter, and from now on will carry a load. It is not my custom to use _kiboko_ on _askaris_;

early to exercise the authority o

out his beard in a terrifying manner. One after another of

e that you are not _askaris_, that you are common porters--and not good ones--who carry guns. I do not know. That we shall see. This is what must be done now, and done quickly: the loads of your

came in an

eye over

"stand forward. Of

ezi, _b

r na

ed a mouthful

ga

epea

name for me. From no

_bwa

the customs o

_bwa

eadman of _askaris_. You take the orders: you report to me--or the _memsahib_," he added, al

ingozi arose and r

ed. "I tell you they have insulted me; they h

w what will happen. You will se

e against a flare of he

t to you," she

a muscle, but their shining black