New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-26
THE TWO MIDSHIPMEN.
A TALE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COAST.
Arthur Lee Knight

month Of lime two handsome bronzed midship-
men, accompanied by native GUIDE, mlSnt , nave
been seen vending their way in an eaSterly dircc-
ton along the banks of the klngam River, whlch
discharges itself into the Indian Ocean, close 10
the town Of Darra Saaaam on te east S0 Tarr pr
Vaughan and Oswald Graham, carried guns III
their hands and game-bags slung over their should
ers; and their gqldeAan , nnuoup'eG ng9do hair
was equipped in the same manner, but In aool-
ton TO gun he carried heavy rifle and quantl1y
have disclosed the fact that there were only rev
quail and wood pigeons in them, in spite OF the
fact that the afternoon was now dsS
belonged TO H. NJ. s. Galatea, then lying at the
Darra Salaam anchorage had been ashore In quest
of game ever since sunrise. The fact was uist
these young gentlemen had conceived the ambl-
tious project of shooting hippopotami-whlch AMI
mails abound in the Kingani River-and the greater
part of the day had been spent IN various am
bushes the banks OF the stream close TO the
usual haunts of these unwieldy great ANIMALS,
slaughtered 1t had been found, however i'm
possible to secure the carcasses OF the sam
creatures owing to the strength OF the current;
end much TO the chagrn OF our mldshlpmeh lIlenus,
they found themselves forced to return without
being able to triumphantly bear back any trophies
of their prowess to exhibit TO their messinates
in the Galatea. TAeir native guide Booooo was
equally disappointed at the turn affairs had
taken, though as he kept perpetually observing to
his young masters during the honeward tramp:
Nasal You make Robbery bout DIS ting,
for sho. Next time dc Gaatea make anchor at
N~'ANN
take Massa up de ribeT-Oh cher so many mile
up; and dere am tousand of 'potamus waiting
for Massa shoot. Booboo got plenty, friend up
deere, and sail bake easy to bring de potamus
But suppose we never come back to Darra
Salaam, Booboo' young Graham observed after
one of these speeches. l believe of TO
Bombay next week, and may not return to the
%Oh, YES NIassa come back for sho,'"' the
negro answered, "ese all de country am ill up
wild de rascal slave-dealer who now am make
Ill oil faocn hack
10 coast in de monsoon and make plenty prize
money; and den massa want TO shoot potamuS.
Booboo am ready wild de big canoe, and dere am
sport plenty moSh, massa, make sure
"Welli we won't forget you, Booboo; if the
Galatea does come back" observed Oswald
Vaughan. We've had stunning day of it, any
how; haven't We, Harry?"
II should think SOL" returned his companion.
"Oh how jolly it is to get ashore in these wild
junges with ones gun, instead of being cOoped up
on board ship"
And though we didn't manage to get any
trophies" continued the other, we shot the hip;
down the river. don't think it was bad for our
first attempt at big game.
We've got some quail and wood-pigeons to
show the fellows said his messmate, peering into
his game-bag which is lucky, or we should have
been good de1 chaffed."
readers will doubtless have conjectured were
sworn chu1ns, and had already been serving to-
gether on board the Galatca (which WAS an eight
gun sloop) for two years. They were at the time
Of our story sixteen years old, and were handsome,
%eigrown boys dev0te9 to sport ana many S eX
never been marred by disputes or quarrels, and
Captain Madden, who commanded the Galatea,
looked upon them as the two most promising
young officers IN the ship.
Darra Salaam, where the Sultan of Zanzibar has
residence is situated upon the coast only few
degrees south Of the equator, and so the whole
region in its neighborhOOd is extremely hot,
especially up the rivers, where, owing to the
dense overhanging jungleS and multitudinOuS man.
grove bushes, the cooling Influences of the life
giving sea-breeZe are almost unfelt. The rude
track which our midshipmen friends were return
ing by rule followed the sinuOuS course OF
the river; and, though the fierce rays Of an almost
vertical sun were intercepted by the outrageous
trees overhead, which "wOve twilight DER the
path" the air was 50 stagnant and pemeated
with the pcStiential vapors which arose from
the alligator-haunted ud-banlIs Of the stream
that the heat was more than usually oppressive
this particular afternoon; much so that
even our two midshipmen, who had spent couple
of years in the tropics, and therefore to
certain extent acclimatized, began to feel its
facilitating influence.
II say, Oswald, old chap" exclaimed young
Vaughan at length, Il vote we rest under the
shade of those bamboos and take it easy for
half an hour. This heat is almost unbearable.''
Right y'uare, Harry. You know we needn't
&c stae ea board all 5 O'clock 50 we've heaps of
Even Tine s2most naked Booboo was not sorry
70 avail himself of the midshipmens proposal, and
the trio were soon stretched upon a convenient
piece of grassy sward under the shade Of the
lofty, motionless bamboos, listening to the never
ceasng quaint chorus of bird and insect cries
emanating from the gloomy depths of the sur
rounding jungle.
Suddenly l}ooboo-who was squatting upon the
ground In negro fashion-started, and appeared to
be listening intently
What's up old Booboo ?" asked Graham "Do
YOU see a fetch in the Jungle ?'
No fetch, massa, but tink one leopard am
prowl about amongst de tree. Booboo not berry
sure, but plenty mosh tinl his eye not deceive"
shoot it % exclaimed Oswald Graham eXcitedly as
he seized his gun shall we go after it, Harry P"
Z" 1t would be jolly fun to knock over leopard"
answered his chum, but to tell you the honest
TRUTH I'm rather tagged, and should prefer rest
ing here. If You like to follow the beast up with
won't be gone long, old man ?'
Ten minutes at the outside" answered his
friend, "but wish you would come too"
I'm too lazy, really, and have got bit of
O headache and as we have only the one rife,
you may well make OF it,"
Seeing that his friend was really indisposed for
more sport, and intending to return Immediately,
should it turn out that BooboO had raised false
alarm, Oswald took the rifle from the negro,
carefully examined it, and then, followed by his
sable attendant, plunged into the recesses of the
forest, BOObO0 marking a tree here and there as
they proceeded, in order to Obviate any difficulty
1n finding the way back.
Leaving Harry Vaughan stretched out drowsily
under the clump of bambOos shall follow the
fortunes of Oswald and the negro.
BOoboo," said the midshipman, as he forced
his way through the tangled brake, did You
actually see the leopard ?"
:" / see de tip of um tail, massa, he wriggle
um way troo de jongle, and tink him no trabel
berry far dis hot afternOon-bery FOOLS leopard
else, m0ssa."
We'll! ] only hope III bag him." observed
Oswald; his skin would make lovely rug for
the mater"
Booboo now advised silence, and the two glided
steathily along, making as little noise as possible
few minutes had passed in this way, when,
Just as the MILDLY had entered particularly dense
piece Of jungle, he beard rustling sound among
the underwood close by, and in another second a
large and handsome leopard sprang out almost
under Oswalds nose, and before that startled
young gentleman could raise his rife 10 fire bad
houO HaA of n
from observation by the great boles of the forest
trees
Well. that is sell!' said the MILDLY, in a
disappointed tone.
Nebbcr you glib him up. Massa' exclaimed
Booboo, encouragngly; tink him lie low in de
forest not berry mOsh distant"
Oswald followed eagerlY The animal's