The Raymer enterprise., 1913-05-15

we VIII pass nightly over this sec
tion OF the great journey, for 1t was
similar to many another African trip
trip by boat on river and lake. But
once they had reached Karonga their
real difficulties commenced. The
motor.launch had to be pushed on Its
wheels across the watershed by the
so-called Stevenson road-which Is no
road at all in the generally accepted
meaning OF the word-to Fife and
thence to the Chambesi river. so that
Lake Bangweolo might eventually be
reached. Where Instructions impeded
progress-a2d there we're countless
numbers Of such places-they had to
be overcome. Trees had to be felled.
streams bridged. hills climbed. and
bush cleared from the self.made path.
After days and days Of toll In ter
rifle tropical heat, the voyagers reach.
ed the banks OF the Chambesi river
and again took to the water courses.
This part OF the trip was full OF dan.
gers. unexpected and entirely impos-
sible to guard against.
All went well with them until they
had nearly reached the shores OF the
mysterious Lake Bangweolo. Then
disaster. dire and dreadful. overlook
them. Within sight OF their goal they
we're overcome by cruel, relentless
fate.
AT dawn on September third. the
blood.red morning sun triumphantly
rose over the summit OF the dark
chain OF the Muchemwa mountains.
bathing all nature in Its glorious
beauty. It bade them rise and con-
tinue their journey down the Cham.
best to the lake. their long.hoped.for
destination
At six.thirty the two white men EN-.
barked, and few minutes later the
African servants were rowing Justify
up the Chambesi toward Bangweolo.
for whenever possible they saved
their gasoline and rowed. Moreover.
there were many shallow channels to
be negotiated and these were the
more easily navigated without use OF
The motor
For time nothing unusual hap.
pened. There was no sign OF life
beyond occasional birds along the
river banks. At last a convenient
place TO land and partake OF break.
fast was found. and the two men ran
the launch into the bank. The cook
and servants busily stirred them.
selves to prepare the delayed meal.
But suddenly they stood petrifed
with astonishment, Not more than
nifty PAGES from them. close to the
river bank, stood three mighty bui.
falo. watching them with wondering
eyes, They had appeared so silently
through the underground and reeds
that no one had had warning OF their
approach, These were no ordinary
buffalo, They were gigantic and sug.
sestiye OF prehistoric types.
Silence, deep and impressive. like
that silence which foreshadows death,
feigned for brief moment. Then
Lieutenant Graetz awoke to the dan.
ger that threatened them. With the
almost automatic precision OF the ad.
yenturer in savage lands he unslung
his rife, The Frenchman. Fiere. fol.
lowed his example. Graetz fired the
moment his cheek rested along the
butt OF his Mauser rifle and the sights
came on. Bang, the shot rang out,
awakening the bird life and echoing
through the trees beyond them and
then family back again. The leading
buffalo stumbled and fell on his
knees. rose again. shook his ponder.
Gus head In mingled anger and pain.
and then, dashing up the river bank.
calloped from sight into the bushes.
The other two followed their wound
ed brothers example.
Meanwhile Fiere stood ready to fire.
In case OF necessity. but there was no
further need now. IntermIttently
through the underground the two
men caught glimpses OF the buiYaloes'
shaggy forms as they followed the
course OF the stream toward the lake.
But presently they saw but two OF
them. What had become of the third.
they asked themselves. They were
not out OF danger yet. apparently.
Perhaps the third animal still kept
company with his fellows but was
hidden by the bushes: more likely
still. he had left them-the surest
possible sign that he was severely
wounded. Good They would get him
yet "Bos CATER Graetzii" would reaa
well In museum records and geological
books. thought Graetz TO himself.
The decision to follow and kill (
wounded giant was quickly reach,
breakfast was forgotten. Leaving {
cook and two OF the native follow,
to clear away the untasted meal n
pack the motorlaunch ready for
newed start. Graetz and Fiere ha
ened OF on the trail OF the buffalo
was not hard to follow. Large smed
OF blood were to be seen everywhe
on bushes, on rocks, on the bare sd
and against treos It showed plain
The spoor led up the bank OF
Chambesi and headed undoubtedly
ihn shnltnr Of I.nkn nanrwnnln