Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-19

Collector and Tanner Of Wild Animals.
who Has Just Returned from Africa,

Collector and Tanner Of Wild Animals.
Who Has Just Returned from Africa.
T REACHED New York the other
day. after Winter spent in West
Africa collecting wild animals,
with a warm feeling of gratitude
in my heart for mans ancient
enemy--the snake For though I
brought back many large animals.
among them gorilla which is perhaps
the only living specimen Of its tribe In
our country. the snakes caused me less
trouble and expense and brought me
more immediate financial returns than
any other animal
I am full Of gratitude now. but have
had some encounters with them that
left me with no such feeling Curl
CUSlv enough, my most dangerous eN-
l,e~ie7,re with snakes came when was
on s chimpan7ee hunt, l did preserve
nv life. but I emerged with no great
Story. And ever shall ! be haunted by
The solemn knowledge that three more
extraordinary c0braS than have ever
been captured escaped me-the man
whose business il IS 10 collect rare
living things.
II was a weary undertaking from the
hour J reached the village and started
assembling suitable company 10 go
With me up Cape Mount.
For three perspirine days / worked
70 enlist recruits for the chlmpanzce
hunt I cajoled. argued. hrlbed but
THE boys heSitatc6 Prejudice sat or
their black foreheadS. That mountain
waS haunted. Woe 70 the man who
braved those ghosts!
They so whistle down big hill They
he uait for boys. They murder, then
they laugh. We no go"
T., vcs, 3aHtSheS asSHltChtS and
collar buttons among the dudes Of the
village My band was not forthcoming,
though one withered widow finally Of
fere0 herself, provided / would marry
her first At length I set out with my
head boy Hector. and youth named
Ssnticie upon s trip which was merely
4 gesture 70 convince the doubterS that
man could travel up that dark noun
tain and come back safely. SO We took
two DAYS provisions. = cot and tent.
some blankets. a pistol. an outfit for
catching butterflies. and, Of course. my
medicine box
"ohe. one. ohe," they chsnted in
aorf Of dirce. "Good-bv Buck, We
will no more look upon your face
again
They waved farewell as to men de-
parting for certain death
Dogs hearts. Sleeps brains worth
less bows! Go DIG in gardens, Go do
wonler'S work. were the exhortationS
I flung back
So we departed none TOO suspicious
i. The spell which Africa casts over
ifs children sometimes visits its troubled
charm upon the alien white man And
though. Of course. / laugh at ghosts
yet you have my solemn word That
OAR I marched with devils. AS VIC
~ 80 rs-+ sr1@
tbs breath O. The bovs came in frantic
fear OF what the new road might open
up. Their trenor passed to ne, fight
it as I did
We reached a small plateau carpcted
with odorous ferns. not far from
. clear brook. About III. sides was
vnGerbrush. We mace camp. and in
the nearby brook I caught some ex-
csiient small fish. nlu.cll ike our trout.
which Hector sizzled pleasantly over
the fire. ! also shot and cleaned a
fowl anG hung II On a branch ready
for breakfast. Then from my cot. with
the BOYS wrapped IN BLANKETS nearby.
: VI tche6 the twilight fade As night
evocped down with t-o0ical abrupsncss.
Soon / was aSlsep. bat not for long
Teeth wc-e c1c.te--ng as awakened
EinSy ho2ds ri tfe b7"s were smoth-
ercd n thar blank p Hector walled
"M1ssa. il m good for come here.
That noise, il h. chcs,5,'
HUSH / commanded.
T>s3cous notes elbbered into the
nigh. was puzzled. then impatient
Bzht Hector. shame ycur mans
heart II Is al owl shrieklng for that
bro hung I'D for breakfast He
doesn't dare come near enough to steal
Il. So he boots Make you &C cut it
ocva"
Had asked shat boy to step into
cage Of VIII lsopards. il would have
bsen no mere cruel. In tbs silver light
I could see his blanket treInble as he
pleaded.
1T no be g0od Hector cut Gown"
! went myself And I threw Il far
into the bushes. The 3crec:h:ns ended
like charm. ! curled myself up again
and called to Hector
There, ny boy. what cid Daddy
Buck tell you7"