Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-08-13
CHAPTER III.
THE FIRST ROUND.

After this, as it was now midday
and l had killed enough meat. we
marched back trumphantly to camp
where proceeded to cOncoct stew
Of buffalo beef and compressed vege
table.
When this was done. we ate the stew
and then had nap.
About 4 o'clock, however Gobo woke
me up. and told me that the headman
of one of Wambe's kraals had arrived
to see me.
l ordered him to be brought up, and
presently he came, little, wizened
talkative old man, with waistcloth
.ound his middle, and greasy, frayed
kaross made of the skins Of rock rab
bits over his shoulders.
abused him roundly.
What do you mean," I asked, "by
disturbing me in this rude way?
"How did he dare to cause person
If my quality and evident Importance
to be awakened in order to Interview
his entirely contemplate self:'
spoke thus because l knew that II
would produce an impression OH him.
Nobody except really great man,
he would argue. would dare to speak to
him in that fashion.
Most savages are desperate bullies
at heart, and look OH inSolence as Il
sign of power.
The old man instantly collapsed.
He was utterly overcome, he said;
his heart was split in two, and well
realized the extent of his misbehavior.
But the occasion was very urgent.
He heard that mighty hunter was
In the neighborhOod, beautiful white
man-how beautiful he could not have
imagined had he not seen-this to mel
and he came to beg his assistance.
The truth was that three bull ele.
phants such as no man ever saw had
for years been the terror Of their kraal,
which was but small place, cattle
kraal of the great chief Wambc, where
they lived to keep the cattle.
And now of late these elephants had
lone them much damage, but last night
they had destroyed whole patch OF
mealie land, and he feared that II
they came back they would all starve
next season for want of food.
Would the mighty white man then
be pleased to come and kill the ele.
pt9nts?- .--- 80 49, --
It would be easy for him to do-oh,
most easy!
1t was only necessary that he should
hide himself in tree, for there was
'ull moon, and then when the elephants
ippeared he would speak to them with
he gun, and they would fall down
lead, and there would be an end Of
heir troubling.
OF course, hummed and hawed and
made a great favor Of consenting to
his proposal, though really I was de-
lighted to have chance.
One of the conditions that I made
was that messenger should at once
be dispatched to Wambe. whose krae.
was two days journey from where
was. telling him that I proposed to
| come and pay my respects to MIN ih
few days. and to ask his formal per-
mission to shoot in his country.
Also I intimated that was prepared
to present him with "hongo;" that is,
blackmail, and that hoped to do a
little trade with him in ivory, of which
+, heard he had great quantity.
, This message the old gentleman
oromsied to dispatch at once, though
| here was something about his manner
which showed me that he was doubt
ful as to how it would be received
After that we struck our camp, and
moved on to the kraal, which we
reached about an hour before sunset.
This kraal was collection of huts
surrounded by slight thorn fence;
perhaps there were ten Of them In all
1t was situated in a kloof OF the
mountain, with rivulet flowing down
1t.
(To be continued)