The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-01-31

|
duced II with what was apparently
sighting remark.
The man glanced up with a panied
look on his face, arose, laid the wand
on the ground as measure and with
laborious fingers began to trace a
mighty oval Msungo leaned across
the table and gazed with fascinated
eye; Andrea. watching him, could see
the pulse throbbing at his temples. He
was new M'sungo, somebody young,
approachable, Iovable, 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 ms though
to still her. 1.-THE little man." he ex-
planned. "ls drawing the spoor OF a
mighty beast. Look at II and learn IT
hy heart, for II viii be photograph"
/ Having completed the circumference
of his oval the native was making
various tracings on its face, dividing 1t
us with maze of tracks. When he
! had apparently finished, he sank back
on his heels and gazed critically at his
/ handiwork.
J. swatch said M'sungo. Before he
gets up, he'll put In some mark, some
distinctive feature that distinguishes
+ this spOor from all others"
No sooner. had he spoken than the
black leaned forward and with a sure
touch deepened two Of the cracks till
they formed n long narrow v running
z diagonally half across the oval. That
done he turned abruptly from his
1 drawing, joined his comrades, turned
his back on M'sungo and unstoppering
cartridge case. proceeded TO take
snuff.
I M'sungo Strengthened with long
/ quivering sigh. 1T is WELL" he said In
dialect. 1--WE will co.. The, three
wlzened men nodded their heads many
times and grunted. With no further
instruction, gunbearers, water boys,
crackers and Marguerites attendant
scattered to their various prepare
lions. hindered by excited women and
children. The camp hummed. Bathtub
slapped breakfast on the table and
then stood on one foot, then on the
other In impotence. On the faces Of
all was the same half-smile, the same
look Of suppressed but mighty antici-
patton.
M'sungo ate a few mouihfuls but
they seemed to choke him. He pushed
back his plate. stuffed his pipe full
and lit 1t. His eyes played over An
drea's face and Hred hers with their
ewn brilliance. When he spoke every
word thrilled her as though this won
derful morning were surcharged with
an emotional current sensitive to
every sound and movement.
andrea Pellor" he said " it'll hap
| by twinkle of mock solemnity in his
glance. "you are about to be initiated
| into the mysteries of the major guild
of many centuries, the closest corpo-
ration of sport I'm the world; In three
words, the society Of elephant hunters
You will probably witness death and ]
hope and pray II will be the death Of
| the hunted, but for the comfort of
your soft heart let me tell You that TO.
day we 60 forth not to slaughter but
to battle"
He turned his eyes from her face
and continued In a more serIous
strain: "The hunting of elephant is n
science. II is n crescendo Of delicate
3 lv balanced ,,ctors that stor,s CO..,
two distant points and beginning on n
cool foundation OF mutual respect
passes upward through stages of in.
telligence against intelligence. caution
for caution, perseverance on the heels
Of endurance. until It meets on the
high plane OF naked courage and
sweeps to its tragic climax of white.