The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-12-04
BY H. RIDER HAGGAR RID.
Not a sour was e be seen.


the clear, open space, fioored with a
concrete Of lime, on which the sun beat
fiercely. but nobody could we see or
hear.
"The jackal has gone to earth" said
Maiwa.
HE viii be in the cave behind his
hut and she pointed with her spear
toward another small and semi-circu-
lar Enclosure, over which large hut
was visible, that had the cliff itself for
background.
stared at this fence.
BY George, it was true!--it was en-
tirely made of tusks Of ivory planted
in the ground, with their points bend
ing outward.
Tie smallest ones, though none were
small, were placed nearest to the cliff
on either side, but they gradually in
creased in size till they eliminated in
two enormous tusks in the shape of an
inverted v, formed the gateway to the
hut
I was dumfounded with delight, and
indeed, where is the elephant hunter
who would not be, If he suddenly saw
five or six hundred picked tusks set up
in row, and only waiting for him to
take them away?
OF course the stuff was what is
known as black ivory; that is, the ex-
terror of the tusks had become black
from years or perhaps centuries of ex-
posure to wind and weather, but was
certain that it was none the worse for
that.
Forgetting the danger of the pro-
ceeding. actually ran, in my excite
ment, right across the open space, and,
drawing my knife, scratched vigorous
ly at one of the great tusks to see how
deep the damage was.
AS I thought. it was nothing; there
beneath the black covering cleaned
the pure white ivory.
could have capered for joy, for I
fear that / am very mercenary. at
heart, when suddenly heard the faint
echo of cry for assistance.
"Helpr' screamed a voice in the
Sisutu dialect from somewhere beyond
the hut-.'help! they are numbering
me-
knew the voice.
It was John Every's.
Oh! what a selfish brute was II for
the moment that miserable ivory had
driven the recollection of him out of
my head, and now perhaps it was too
late.
NaIa, Maiwa, and the soldiers had
now come up.
They, too, had heard the voice. and
Interpreted its tone, though they had
not caught the words.
This way!' cried Maiwa; and we
started at run, passing around the
hut of Wambe.
Behind was the narrow entrance to
a cave
We rushed through it, needless of the
danger of an ambush, and this was
what we saw, though very confusedly
at first, owing to the gloom.
In the centre of the cave, and with
either end secured to the floor by
strong stakes, was huge double
springed lion trap. fringed with sharp
and grinning teeth.
It was set, and beyond the trap, in
deed almost over it, terrible struggle
was in progress.
A naked or almost naked white man,
with a great beard hanging down over
his breast, was, in spite of his furious
struggles, being slowly forced and
dragged toward the trap by six or
eight women.
Only one man was present, fat,
cruel looking man. with small eyes
and hanging lip.
1t was the chief Wambe, and he
stood by the trap ready to force the
victim down upon it as soon as the
women had dragged him into the nee
essary position.
At this instant they caught sight of
us, and there was moments pause;
and then, before knew what she was
going to do, Maiwa lifted the assegai
she still held. and whirled it at Wam-
bets head.
saw the fash of light speed toward
him, and so did he, for he stepped
backward to avoid it-stepped back
ward right into the trap.
He yelled with pain as the iron teeth
Of the Thing that bites'' sprang up
like living things and fastened into
him.
Such yell have not often heard.
Now, at last. be tasted Of the torture
which he had inflicted upon SO many.
and though / trust / am a Christian,
/ cannot say that / felt sorry for him.
The assegai sped on, and struck one
Of the women who had hold Of the UNI
fortunate Every. piercing through her
arm.
This made her leave go-an example
that the other women quickly followed,
SO that Every fell to the ground, where
he lay gasping.
xiii the witchesl" roared Nala, in a
voice Of thunder. pointing to the group
Of women.
"Nay." gasped Every; spare them.
He made them do it,
And he pointed to the human fiend
| in the trap.
Then Maiwa waved her hand to us to
fall back, for the moment N her ven
| geance was come.
We did SO, ana she strobe up to her
lord, and hinging the white robe from
her. stood before him, her fierce. beau
| tiful face fixed like stone
ssWho am II" she cried. in SO terrible
| a voice that he ceased his yelIs.
tam that woman who was given
to thee for wife, and whose child thou