Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-03
CHAPTER xlI.l
A Nioht Ride.


Meriem and Bwana We're sitting on
the veranda together the following
day when Il horseman appeared in The
distance riding across the plain toward
The bungalow.
Bwana shaded his eyes With his hand
and gaZcd oul toward the Onc0mlny
rider. He was puzzled. Strangers
We're few IN central Africa. Even the
blacks for II distance of many miles in
every direction We're we'll known to
him. No white man came within Il
hundred miles that word of his com
ing did not reach Bwana long before
the stranger. His every move was re-
ported to the big Bwana--just what
animals he killed and how many Of
each species, how he killed them. roo,
for Bwana would not permit the use
of prussic acid or strychnne, and how
he treated his boys"
But here was evidently one who had
slipped into the country unheraldcd.
Bwana could not imagine who the APP
preaching horseman might be.
After the manner of frontier hoSpi-
tally the globe round. he met the new
conner AT The gate, welcoming him even
before he had dismounted. He saw
tall, well-knil man of thirty or more.
blond of hair and SlnOOth-Shaven.
There was ii tauializing familiarity
about him thai convinced BWana that
he should be able To call the visitor by
name, yet he was unable to do so.
Bwana VAS wondering how IL lone
white man could have made his way
through the savage, unhoSpiiahle miles
that lay toward The south As though
guessing what must be passing through
saled IN explanation.
II came dorm from the north to do n
little trading and hunting he said,
"and gol way off the beaten track. My
head man. who was the only member
Of the safari who had ever before been
In the country, took sick and died. We
so | simply swung back straight north
We have been living ON the fruits of
our guns for over Il month
Didn't have an idea there was
white man within a thousand miles OF
us when we camped last night by q
water hole at the edge Of the plain.
This morning | started out to hunt and
saw the smoke from your chimney, SO
! sent my gun bearer back to camp
with the good news and rode straight
over here myself. or course I've heard
OF yOl--evcrybody who comes into cen
tra Africa does--and I'd he mighty
glad Of permission 10 rest up and hunt
around here for couple Of weeks
Certainly" replied Bwana. Make
Yourself AT home
They had rcaAied the veranda now
and Bwana was introducing the stran
ger to Meriem and My Dear, who had
just come from the bungalows interi-
or.
"This Is Mr.. Hanson he said. using
the name the man had given him. He
Is a trader who has lost his way IN the
jungle To the south
My Dear and Mericm bowed their
Acknowledgements of the Introduction.
The man seemed rather Ill NJ ease in
their presence His host attributed this
TO the fact that his guest was unaccus
toned to the society of cultured wa.
men, and 50 found Il preteXt to eXtri
cate him quickly from his seemingly
unpleasant position and lead him away
TO his study and the brandy and soda,
which We're evidently much less EN-.
barrassing to Mr.. Hanson.
When the two had left them Mcrlcm
turned toward My Dear.
III Is odd" she said. but | could
almost swear that had known MIR.
Hanson IN the past II Is odd, but
quite impossible" and she gave the
matter no further thought. !.