Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-02-13
By
GEORGE AGNEW
CHAMBERLAIN

nave worried. When she stepped out
early next morning dressed for the
field in compliance with message
from M'sungo to put on her toughest
and toughest she was so excited that
even the memory of her doubt was
plotted from her mind. Something was
IN the air of the craaI that could be
felt rather than heard, the sort of
something that one could imagine pos
sessing hive just before it began to
hum
Msungo was already sitting under
the dining tree engaged in a diminu-
tive palaver with three wizened blacks
who squatted on the ground squint-
Ing up at him and speaking in turn
in answer to his patient questioning.
Around them but at a respectful DIS
lance 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 at 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
half-narcotized and fearful of losing
the dream, .'Watch and listen, for
these men bring great tidings." He
smiled almost like a boy.
One of the Wizened produced a thin
wand, about twenty inches in length,
freshly broken at one end. He passed
1t to his companions; who stared at it
as though they saw it for the first in
stead Of the hundredth time, fingered
it, gurgled over it and finally gravely
handed it to M'sungo. He went through
more or less the same process and re-
turned it to the man who first pro-
duced 1t with what was apparently a
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. 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. 1.-THE little man. he ex-
planned, ''is drawing the spoor of a
mighty beast Look at it and learn it
hy heat for 1t will be a photograph"
Having completed the circumference
Of his oval, the native was making
various traclngs on it's face, dividing it
as with maze of tracks. When he
had apparently finished, he sank back
on his heels and gazed critically at his
handlwork.
watch" 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 long narrow V running
diagonaIly half across the oval. That
done he turned abruptly from his
drawing, Joined his comrades, turned
his back on M'sungo and unstoppering
cartridge case, proceeded to take
snuff.
Msungo Strengthened with a long
quivering sigh. 1T is well" he said Ia
dialect. 1--WE wilt CO., The three
| wizened men nodded their heads many
times and grunted. With no further
instruction, gunbearers, water boys,
crackers and Marguerite's attendant
scattered to their various prepara-
| 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