Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-11-17
CHAPTER XII.
A Night Ride.

n TERIEM and Bwana were sitting
lVl on tho veranda together the fol-
lowing day when n horseman
appeared in the distance riding across
the plain toward the bungalow.
Bwana shaded his eyes with his hand
and gazcd out toward tho oncoming
rider. He was puzzled. Strangers
were few In central Africa. Even the
blacks for distance Of many miles In
every direction were we'll known to
him. No white man came within a
hundred miles that word Of his COM
ing did not reach Bwana long before
the strange every move was re-
ported to the big Bwana--ju what
animals he killed and how many of
each species, how he killed them, too,
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 unheralded.
Bwana could not imagine who the up.
preaching horsemnn might be.
After the manner Of frontier hospi-
tally the globe round, he met the new
conner Mt the gate, welcoming him even
before he had dismountcd. He saw q
tall, well knit man of thirty or more,
blond of hair and smooth shayen,
There was tantalizing familiarity
about him that convinced Bwana that
he should be able to cnll the visitor by
name, yet he was unable to do so.
BWana was wondering how n lone
white man could have made his way
through the savage. unacceptable miles
that lay toward the south. AS though
guessing what must be passing through
the others mind, the stranger vouch-
safed an explanation
Il came down from the north to do
little trading and hunting" no said.
land got way Off the beaten track. NV
mead man. who was the only member
or the safari who had ever before been
III the country. took sick and died We
could find no natives to guide us. and
so simply swung back straight north.
We have been living on the fruits OF
our guns for over q month.
Didn't have an idea there was n
white man within thousand miles Of
as when we cnmped last night by a
water hole ut the edge Of tho plain.
This morning I 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 straighr
over here myself. OF course I've heard
OF you-everybody who comes into CEN
trail Africa docs-and ia be mighty
glad Of permission to rest up and hunt
around here for couple of weeks"
certainly" replied Bwana. Mako
yourself at home"
They had reached the vcranda now.
and Bwana was introducing the stran-
ger to Mcriem and My Dear. who had
just come from the bungalows interior.
"This is Mr.. Hanson" he said. using
the name the man had given him. HE
is trader who has lost his way in the
jungle to the SOUTH"
My Dear and Mcricm bowed their
acknowledgements OF tho introduction.
The man seemed rather Ill at ease IN
their presence. His host attributed this
to the fact that his guest was unaccus-
toned to the society Of cultured wo-
men, and SO found pretcXt to eXtrI-
cate him quickly from his seemingly
unpleasant position and lead him away
to his study and the brandy and soda.
which were evidently much less en-
barrassing to Mr.. Hanson.
When the two had left them Meriem
turned toward My Dear.
ut is odd" she said, but l could
almost swear that had known Mr..
Hanson In the past. 1t Is odd, but
quite impossible" and she gave the
matter no further thought.
For three weeks Hanson had re-
manned. During this time he said that
his boys were resting and gaining
strength after their terrible ordeals in
the untracked jungles to the south, but