Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-07

that he would not have the courage to nut
into effect when the test came and he stood
race to face with one of the dominant race.
mile from the clearing he came upon
the spoor of two ponies crossing his path at
right angles. A cunning look entered the
blacks eyes. He laughed uproariously and
slapped his thighs.
Negroes are tireless gossipers, which, of
course, is but roundabout way of saving
that they are human. Malbihn's boys
had been no exception to the rule, and as
many OF them had been with ,lim at various
times during the last 10 years, there was
little about his acts and life In the African
wllds that was not known directly or by
hearsay to them all.
And so, knowing his master and many of
his past deeds; knowing, too n great deal
about the plans of Mabihn and Baynes
that had been overheard by himself or
other servants and knowing well, from the
gossip Of the headmen that half of NAL
bihn's party lay in camp by the great river
FAR to the west, II was not difficult for the
boy to put two and two together and arrive
at four as the sum-the four being repre-
sented by firm conviction that his master
had deceived the other white man and taken
the latter's woman to his western camp
leaving the other to suffer capture and
punishment at the hands of the Big Bwana
whom all feared
Again the boy barred his rows of white
teeth and laughed aloud Then he resumed
his northward way, travelling at a dog
trot that ate up the miles with marvellous
rapdlty
In the Swedes camp the Hon. Morrison
had spent an almost seepless night of nerv-
Gus apprehension and doubts and fears
Toward morning he had slept, utterly ex-
hausted 1t was the headman who awoke
him shortly after sunrise to remind him
that they must at once take up their north
ward journey.
Baynes hung back. He wanted to walt
for Hanson" and Meriem.
The headman urged upon him the danger
that lay in lettering. The fellow knew his
masters plans sufficiently well to under
stand that he had done something to arouse
the Ire of the Big Bwana, and that II would
fare i'll with them all II they were over
taken in Big Bwanas country.
At the suggestion, Baynes took alarm.
What IL the Big Bwana, as the headman
called him, had surprised Hanson in his
nefarious work? Would he not guess the
truth and possibly be all ready on the
march to overtake and punish him? Baynes
had heard much of his hosts summary
method of dealing out punishment to male
factors great and small who transgressed
the laws or customs of his savage little
world which lay even beyond the outer RAM
parts of what men are pleased to call from
tiers. In this savage world, where there
was ilO law, lHe Dig D"dHd was id" UNIV
himself and all who dwet about him.
1t was even rumored that he had exacted
the death penalty from a white man who
had maltreated a native girl.
Baynes shuddered at the. recollection of
this piece of gossip as he wondered what his
host would exact of the man who had
attempted to steal his young white ward.
The thought brought him to his feet.
Yes" he said nervously, 1--WE must get
away from here at once. Do you know
the trail to the north?"
The headman did, and he lost no time in
getting the safari upon the march.
1t was noon when a tired and sweat
covered runner overlook the trudglng little
column. The man was greeted with shouts
of welcome from his fellows, to whom he
impaired all that he knew and guessed of
the actions of their master, so that the
entire safari was aware of matters before
Baynes. who marched close to the head of
the column, was reached and acquainted
with the facts and the imaginings of the
black boy whom Malbihn had deserted In
the clearing the night before.
When the Hon. Morrison had listened to all