The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-23

10 get a drink myself before crossing
that noticed that the footprints on the
bank were sufficiently numerous TO
prove that my conjecture was correct.
Delighted at my discovery, called my
companions attention to 1t. Travers
nt once turned back, and we examined
IL together. The more carefully we
looked. the more certain 1t seemed TO
become that had actually stumbled on
favorite watering place. For some
distance, both above and below the
SPOT at which we had crossed, foot
prints of large variety of wild animals
could be traced on the margin, anu
Travers hazarded conjectures as to the
particufur kinds of game that were rep
resented.
"By Jovc, Hail." he exclaimed, ut
would be sin to miss such q chance.
There's a regular menagerie OF them,
end IL we can only get the chance we
might even have the luck to pot lion."
"a lion?" l said; 'why, man, I'd
travel a hundred miles to get chance
"Well, / don't think you need go so
| far, by long way; there was an old
nigger at tho post last week who said
| there were lions not far of, and, some
how, these beggars always seem to
know; 1 fancy they can smell them
| out" stt
IT say, Travers," exclaimed. after
q moments pause, do you think we
can get leave to try 1t at night?'
Travers looked thoughtful for mo-
ment. "Well," he said, mo! It's past
praying for, and that's the fact. Old
Benson would never listen to II, espe-
cially IL he thought there were lion
in the case. lie hates sport OF adj sorts,
ever since his brother was killed by
lion down in the Zulu country. but we
might manage II, all the same. He
wouldn't mind after il was over, and
one or two of us. have tried it before,
only we never had the luck to fall across
anything worth having"
The idea was exriting--doubly 80
with the addition of it's unauthorized
haracter, and Travers and ! discussed
il eagerly as we made the best OF our
way back to the post at Makalesi. AS
we went, we noted carefully the various
landmarks by which we hoped to find
our way back To the spot at night, and
we easily satisfied ourselves that we
could do SO without risk of mistake
BY the time we had made our plans W.
| had al.sest he'd olir destination. and
could see the little outpost on the Other
side of the river. The spot was wei
chosen, no doubt for an outpost, bu
nobody could have recommended Maka
lesi, either for it's beauty. or for its con
venience as q place of residence. 1
stood on the swell of the rising ground
perhaps hundred yards from the for
of the Makalesi river, which it effectual
ly commanded. but Cor that very rea
son it was exposed without shelter Z
the full heat Of the sun. IL was YER
little OF fortress. Some attempt ha'
been made To surround the three
four rough houses that formed the pos
with slight earthworks and n ditch. bu
> these had not been completed. and par
. of the fortifcntion still consisted OF th
, larger of wagons drawn up SO as :
complete the circle. ~ was occupie
by rather more than fifty of the irrcg'
, lar force--half police, half troopers
a thai had been recently organized unde
: the orders of Dr. Benson, who had bee
Q engaged in the rough and ready work
= the frontier, both in killing ard curini
: for the past fifteen years. The disc
pline of the force was loose. but the me
l. themselves were OF that class which e.
. perience has shown the most efrecti'
= for the first rough undertakings of col
u nizing in nearly all parts OF the world.
Our arrival was hailed with heart
!, welcome on all hands, and an active !
terest was shown in what we had 10 ts
=. Us 10 the locality in which we had con
:. - across the came wc Ind secured. Tn
~ crs was eorcful TO let no hint drop az
- our discovery of the watering place u
der the Kopjc. and OF course follows
" his example. but noticed that be sa
% nothing of the supposed sentinel nati'
"a 10 whom he had called my attentio
e- I looked on this omission Of his az pro
10 ing corclusively that he had only be-
4. joking when he told me about IL. and
or was careful hot 10 give HIM the sat-
u faction of seeing shsA remembered
=