The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-12-06

nave worried. W hen she stepped cut
early next morning dressed for She
held in compliance with Il message
from " Sun2o to put on her toughest
ana toughest she was so excited that
even the memory of her doubt was
bloited from her mind. Something was
I'D the air of the craal that could be
feit rather than heard. the sort of
something that one could imagine pos
SeSSing hive just before it began 10
| hum.
NJ sungo was already sitting under
| The dining tree engaged in diminu-
! tive palaver with three wizened blacks
| who squatted on the ground sduint-
Ing up at him and speaking in turn
III answer 10 his patient questioning
Around Them but at respectful dis
tance were gathered various members
OF the camps personal staff. On The
faces Of the wizened three and also on
M'Sungo's was the same look of
fanaticai exaltatiOn. the look that pro-
claims any group of diverse men
brothers ut heart
What is it," asked Andrea, breath
less from hurrying
Elephant" replied M'sungo He
drew a chair to his side. "Sit down."
he said softly as one whose mind is
haff-narcotiZed and fearful of losing
the dream, watch and listen. for
these men bring great tidings" He
smiled almost like boy.
One of the wizened produced thin
wand. about twenty inches in length.
freshly broken at one end. He passed
it to his companions: who stared at it
as though they saw it for the first in
stead Of the hundredth time. fingered
II. gurgled over it and finally gravely
handed it to M'sungo He went through
more or less the same process and re-
turned 1t to the man who first pro-
duced it with what was apparently
sighting remark
The man glanced up with panied |
look on his face, arose. laid the wand |
on the ground as measure and with |
iaborious fingers began to trace a
mighty oval. M'sungo leaned across
the table and gazed with fascinated |
eye; Andrea, watching him. could see |
the pulse throbbing at his temples. He |
was new Msungo, somebody young.
approachable, lovable. an eager boy.
She leaned close TO his shoulder. |
Please, White Man." she murmured,
please tell me-"
Without turning he put one hand
out and grasped her wrist as though
to still her. 'The little man." he ex-
planned, lis drawing the spoor of a
mighty beast. Look at it and learn it
|'y heat. for it will be a photograph"
Having completed the circumference
of his oval, the native was making
various tracings on its face, dividing it
rs with a maze of tracks When he
had apparently finished, he sank back
On his heels and gazed critically at his
landiwork.
Watch" said M'sungo. Before he
gets up. he'll put in some mark, some
distinctive feature that distinguishes
his spoor from all others
No sooner had he spoken than the
Hack leaned forward and with "A sure
ouch deepened two of the cracks till
hey formed long narrow running
liagonally half across the oval. That
lone he turned abruptly from his
lrawing, joined his comrades, turned |
lis back on M'sungo and unstoppering |
cartridge ease, proceeded to take
huff.
Msungo Strengthened with a long {
uivering sigh. 1T is WELL" he said in ;
ialect 1--WE will co. The three !
rizened men nodded their heads many !
ines and grunted. With no further I
gunbearers. water boys,
hackers and Marguerite's attendant n
catered to their various prepara-
ions, hindered by excited women and n
hiIdfen The camp hummed. Bathtub
Tapped breakfast on the table and
nen stood on one foot, then on the