Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-10-15

Then we started with some four nun
dred men for the chiefs kraal.
Very soon we were there.
It was, as have said, placed against
the mountain side, but within the fQrti.
fed lines, and did not cover more than
an acre and half of ground alto
gether.
Outside was tidy reed fence. within
which, neatly arranged in semi-cir.
cular line, stood the huts Of the chiefs
principal wives.
Maiwa, of course, knew every inch OF
the kraal, for she had lived in 1t. and
led us straight to the entrance.
We peeped through the gateway.
Not soul was to be seen.
There were the huts, and there was
the clear, open space, floored with a
concrete of lime, OIL which the sun beat
fiercely. but nobody could We see or
hear
"The jackal has gone to earth." said
Maiwa.
"He will be in the cave behind his
hut" and she pointed with her spear
toward another small and semi-circu.
lar inclosure, over which a large hut
was visible, that had the cliff itself for
q background.
/ stared at this fence.
by George, it was true!-it was en-
tlrely made of tusks Of ivory planted
in the ground, with their points bend
ing outward.
The smallest ones, though none were
small, We're 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.
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 a 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. I actually ran, in my excite
ment, right across the open space. and,
dra wing my knife, scratched vigorous
ly at one of the great tusks to see how
deep the damage was.
AS thought. 1t was nothing; there
beneath the black covering cleaned
the pure white ivory.
I could have capered for joy, for /
fear that l am very mercenary at
heart, when suddenly l heard the faint
echo of a cry for assistance.
Help" screamed voice in the
Sisutu dialect from somewhere beyond
the hut-"help! they are numbering
me-"
l knew the voice.
1t was John Every's.
Oh! what a selfish brute was I! for
the moment that miserable ivory had
driven the recollection of him out Of
my head, and now perhaps it was too
late.
Nala, Maiwa, and the soldiers had
now come up.
They, too, had heard the voice, and
interpreted it's tone, though they had
not caught the words.
"This wayv 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.
1t was set, and beyond the trap, in
deed almost over 1t, 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
ragged 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 MS 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 assegal
she still held, and whirled it at Wam-
be's head
I saw the flash 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 a yell have not often heard.
Now, at last, he tasted of the torture
which he had inflicted upon so many,
and though / trust am Christian.
/ cannot say that felt sorry for him.
The assegai sped ON, and struck one
of the women who had hold of the un-
fortunate Every, piercing through her
arm.
This made her leave go-an example
that the other women quickly followed,
30 that Every fell to the ground. where
he lay gasping