The Virginia enterprise., 1908-05-01


scamper over Europe, I wagering Z
Broadway supper 1scould take him
to some spot on the continent he was
not familiar. with. II allowed to
make the experiment, reckon I
would have lost. as I'd picked out a
cozy corner in Bulgaria, which 1 sub
sequently learned he had once sum-
rmered in. But when we reached Bom-
bay we were met by orders from the
handspring, asking that we under
take a little African tour, something
with leopards in it. This was old
work for Tib and me, and although all
our plans for lodging the guide-book
In Europe were smashed, he displayed
no disappointment as he prepared for
the sail across the Sea of Arabia to
the hunched-up shoulder of Africa,
where we shifted to q south-bound
boat
"Once arrived. Tib promptly OBJ
tained permission to net anything on
four legs in the Congo State. we pay.
Ing handsome premium on all vic
TINS shipped. He also took out H.
censes in Uganda Protectorate and for
the East Africa Protectorate. You'd
suppose those stamping-groundsw would
suffice to fill all the menageries under
canvas, yet Tib began to lose all in
terest In them when we drew near to
the Uganda border and he heard of
Lake Bango country, which is encom-
passed by the big Magli marsh. That
region 10 under no protectorate, and
although the inhabitants were said to
be replete with disagreeable senti-
ments towards strangers, the old chap
was crazy to visit it. The fact it
was forbidden ground to the blond
race only conjured up in his mind all
sorts of eccentric quadrupedal posi-
bilities: and when our head man
shtvered in the brazen sunlight and
said Teeney Scraws existed solely
to kidnap foolish transients, and add
ed that fugitives from that realm had
related fearsome nursery tales about
man-eating white leopards, 1 knew the
dice were juggled for our going to
the Bango.
AN anxious inquiry on my part drew
forth the information that Mr.. Scraws
was probably the most accomplished
assassin in all Africa He was so
cruel he ought to have been a dentist
He was native chief, the head man
chartered, a professor of unpleasant
practices.
h q rcs1S nt~,,
drew near Mr.. Scraws' bona, as the
native village is called, and began
hunting the fever-laden marsh for
white leopards.
Now that l am out of that busi-
ness, I'll explain that much of our
success in" trapping the untamed peo-
pie Of the tanglewood was due to
q powerful ammonia pistol, much like
those used to-day by cyclists in hesi-
tating ugly dogs. Tib had improved
the article as ordinarily made until
1t would shoot Is charges of the
strongest kind OF dope, and our er>.
plOyer often utilized it in quieting
Gagged animals in place of the crude
hot iron. One slug of that stuff, as
prepared by Tib, would send the aver
age striped cat or lion off to slumber-
land for several minutes, and the pa
tient on awaking was usually very
docile.
well, We made the east shore of
Lake Bango, undisturbed, and as the
hunting was as thin as an almshouse
stew we picked up some native boats
and crossed to the west side.
He studied the approaching shore
steadily for few minutes and then OBJ
served: Too late, my child. l think
our host awaits us; the trees are
alive. To retreat now would mean a
swarm of them upon us, for they have
. few bark ferries on the beach, I
note. Brace up and try to infuse a
little self-respect into our simple fol-
lowers, as 1 fear they have forgotten
their ancestral pride and will do US
scant credit
There he is. Billy-the man with
the face like an inflamed nightmare.
JOvial, MISUNDERSTANDING chap, eh p
and he nodded his head carelessly
toward him we both knew to be Chief
Feeney Scraws.
Don't make move, Billy
warned Tib in q low voice, as with
his free hand he reached in his pocket
and produced his last cigarette and
lighted it.
"The moral effect of this little act
swept the chief of his feet for the
moment, sir. He lowered his weapon
with a grunt of chagrin, or wonder,
and released my patron. It was
lucky thus, as l was unarmed, all our
guns, except our ammonia pistols, be.
ing In the boat. And l reckon if
had shot Feeney, .Tib and l soon
would have overtaken him in the
spirit land; for the mob was un-
usually demonstrative.
Keep near me and walk slow eau
toned Tib. And show of fear means
the emergency ward Then he mopped
his brow and motioned for the chief
to lead us to some shade. 1t was
cOolly done, and some lone corpuscle
Of our hosts tainted. blood began to
admire the old fellows nerve, as was
evinced by the swift gleam of his
green eyes. 1t was fleeting, but we
both caught it. and Tib murmured
over his resolute shoulder: We've got
him puzzled Bit. Wouldn't he make
an elegant wild boy! I'd almost pre-
fer him in a cage to white leopard
"I'll chasten his proud sDirit' ,