Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-12-05


q first streak of dawn"
Y While he talked, the tracker stud
n led the three wlzened sat aloof, takin'
3 snuff. Now, at a nod from M'sungo
they arose and proceeded swift,
J. along the margin of the big trees
Presently they swerved to the left ant
plunged through underground to q
I. well-marked path. In the fine dust
OF that runway Andrea saw the iden-
, teal monster spoor that the old black
had drawn with his finger on the
\ ground beside her breakfast table.
Another halt was called. The track
er squatted by one spoor and then an
other. He held up three fingers.
"All males?" said M'sungo.
The tracker nodded.
'Blg ones" said M'sungo, with that
half-smile of exaltation.
The boy grinned.
Msungo touched the edge OF the
mighty spoor with his toe "Mculo?"
"Stalecka :" murmured the tracker.
and rolled his eyes up into the trees.
"He says It's whopper," whispered
ton. He took Off his jacket and jer-
sey. rolled up his sleeves and frightened
his belt. The tracker stripped to his
breech-clout and took from one of the
wizened a slender-shafted assegai.
The three old hunters laid aside the
rifles they had been carrying and the
gunbearers quietly picked them up.
IN N on
the donkey" he ordered. When she
was mounted her eyes were on a level
with his own. 'Listen," he said.
"tcu'll ride now because when we
strike the bush you can't Please lis
hecouse from now until the kill
nobody Is going to speak to you and
II you should say word out loud YOU
might get six inches If spear in the
excitement Of the moment
go ahead; won't speak" said An
drea, and pressed her lips together.
"When you begin to get hot" con-
tlnued Msungo, Just ttse off what
you don't want and drop it. We peo-
pie ahead can't lose anything if we
try. The boys used to pick up my |
L
When you come 20 the bush. shed your
skirt get of Marguerite and leave \
him. Walk lightly and hing on till
YOU drop. II you last long enough. |
gou'u see me take the big gun. That's
he beginning of the end and when il
happens you are to do just one thing.
.ook around you. Somewhere near
'ou are bound to see a big tree loom
ny out OF the bush. Go 10 it, hug 1t,
tay with Il whatever happens till /
all YOU"
A moment later. they were of at a |
errifle pace. the tracker in the lead, Y
isung0 next then the gunbearers. !
.ndrea, and after her the tagging rest.
or hours they kept on with
ut a break or IA pause.
.ndrea watched Msungo's long stride,
iscinated by It's unvarying pendulum
wing The gunhearers took shorter
leps. They walked plvOting on the
all OF the foot just before each step.
leir heels Jerked inward sharply for
he thrust back. She leaned forward; 10
iarguerite had hts eyes wide open nj
e seemed to be breathing softly. as IN
cough he too, were bent ON playing
10 game. er
Quite suddenly they came out OF the IN
rest into broken NANCY space. The pc
'at aud glare was terrific. Here aud Sc
ere were scraggy groups OF thorn. TN
'parently burnt up by the sun. but in WI
atty very much alive. To one side, hu
} enormous acacia cast It's grateful er
OF of shade. The tracker pausing Sc
last. looked straight up. transtixeo "'
an eloquent pose. W
Andrea followed his gaze. Al an h'
credible height she saw branch. ril
cshly broken. Her reason battled
"a incredibly; Il told her that only an
q thing could have reached the an
anch and snapped 1.-THE up-iiung IN
INK Of the rearing beast they were mi
lowing. For the first time In her ere
Q. measuring again that height. she clio
{ actual awe. M'sungo cast a glance ere
r. his shoulder. His face was allght; ie'
eyes shone With swimming bril- he'
nee. OF
few minutes later they came TO -
: ragged edge OF the elephant bush. aus
g tracker east left and right with
ok. jerky steps. Here the three sen
Is had separated; joyful Sign, for 1t ."'
wed intention TO feed The tracker ~
ne TO a halt, dropped the tip of his .ral
egni shaft TO chosen spoor, zen