Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-02


l paused and eyed them They crowded back a
little Was it possible that they, too were afraid?
Probably none of them had ever before seen white
Perhaps could over-awe them. This thought
gave me hope Striding rapidly up to
= the Chief, held out my hand. He
"a drew back, while others, taking frmer
holds upon their clubs, moved up
|o around him.
:sg~>s Talk to them Fifteen talk to theml
See if you can make them understand
| exclaimed, pushing the boy out in
Aas front of me, but holding my rifle
Il ssN: ready for any hostile movement Tell
fgsRsg them l am great warrior from far
an country, that can kill whole tribes
with my magic club, but will do them
-,sess no HARM
y Fifteen, who never failed me in an
sfYs@ emergency, began to jabber in his
~ fY outland1sh native tongue, and to make
ESSSEyf motions with his hands. The Kafirs
- looked at him with blank faces caus-
~ ing me to despair of being able to inn
press them by word of mouth, when
1 two aged blacks edged their way
through the crowd
p "Matebe1e! Matebele" One of the
81 old men had repeated the word ex-
ctedly to the Chief, and it was passing
from lip to lip. wave of movement
ran through the gathering. There was
an angry stamping of feet, ominous
murmur. The Chief spoke sharply
and two of his body guard advanced to
seize Fifteen l thrust an arm quickly in front of
the boy, and motioned with the other a command
that they stand back
Tell them" l cried, "that you are the slave of
the great white warrior, and that if they try take
you he will kill their chief men with his magic club
and put upon the tribe. Tell them that if
they want proof as to what your chief can do let
them put one man, or two. ten, at the other end
of the village, and the white warrior will kill them
all from where he stands But say that your chief
does not want to kill; that, if he made angry
he will help them.''
In spite of his terror Fifteen rose to the occasion
The son of a Matebele Chief and one of the most
intelligent Kafrs had known, the boy was
proving himself born orator he had need to be,
since he was pleading against hatred and hunger
for his life and mine The old interpreters listened
carefully, evidently much impressed, and when he
had finished translated at some length to the Chief.
The latter hesitated, weighing his crude ideas.
Promises Great Feast
SAY to him" exclaimed quickly, that it would
~ be unwse to decide this great matter now.
Let him sleep on it. Let him wait until tomorrow,
when the white chief will prove that his coming is
a good sign; for he will provide great feast
There will be rejoicing and the beginning of better
times. And now let camp be pointed out, because
The old translated rapidly, and the Chief
uttered quick word. The grips on spears in many.
hands were relaxed murmur, seemingly of re-
lief, arose and half dozen Kafrs, circlng round
cautiously to get well in front, led the way to
grassy spot the river where Fifteen built our
fire and prepared our supper, with large COM
pany of blacks setting about in a big sernicirc1e,
silent, watching me with childish wonder.
At dawn the tom-toms began to sound, and
presently heard yells and babel of voices, and
Hillside in our direction 60 out o and tell the
Chief" l commanded Fifteen, that the white
warrior would be pleased to have him and number
hand to breakfast" The invitation accepted,
and when they arrived at the fire directed them
to sit down, taking seat myself, and then ordered
Fifteen to get from our pack plentiful supply OF
the biltong, or dried meat, which he had cured in
the after having cut it from the hind quarters
of the koodoo 1 had shot day or two before.
This he heated and softened on the fire, and sprink
ling it with salt, handed big piece to each of my
black guests They devoured it ravenously.