Evening star., 1935-09-22
M0g0Sine Section

get the beer. Each one was 10 carry Dottle,
defend it with his life, treasure it as though
it were his first born; and deliver it, with the
label intact, in record time and perfect
condition.
ITO enable Colo to get it. | scribbled
chit to the manager of Machado's Adds
Ababa stores, man who knew me we'll. and
would have sent anything for which asked.
| did it all with an air. in order to impress my
famboyant and pretentous host.
Colo and his family, very literal and
simple people, took me at my word They
set off at run, proposing to run all day and
all night until the weakest fell down, when
they would halt until he could get up again.
AS Colo said, they wanted all twelve to arrive
safely. Twelve left hands for dozen of ale,
twelve right hands for the heavy stabbing
spears wherewith to protect them. -.
"Zande went first because he was the last.
A leopard, letting the others pass, dropped
on him from a tree. breaking his neck and
tearing out his throat They stopped just
long enough to spear the leopard. and for
Makon to get from the leopard's claws flick
across the abdomen. which did him no good.
That evening, because they were travel
ling straight for Adds Ababa, making bee
line through jungle and swamp and river,
over desert and mountain, they had to swim
the Blue Nile. Here they lost Kasse, not so
good a swimmer, and tagging behind the rest.
A big crocodile took him. and they could do
nothing about it.
''On ran the ten and maintained their
steady, unchanging jog trot until Taffe fell
dead. He had never been quite right since
an arrow had gone through him and been
pulled out at the back. between his shoulder
blades 1t had affected his lungs Round him
the rest lay for brief space. dropping in
stantly asleep as dogs do; and, on GoJo's
order, rose as one man, and ran on until Dire,
weary. and running carelessly, trod on a
snake which, like lightning, coiled and
struck him.
They rested while he died. matter of
some twenty minutes.
Then things went badly. They ran into
some thoroughly nasty people Dankali or
Gallas Of sorts, gathered about water-hole.
1t was essential that the runners should
drink; for it was not merely case of drink
or die, but case of drink or fail to get the
beer
The bad people waved them away from
the water hole, using threatening gestures
and evil words, so Colo and his seven formed
line and charged with raised spears. Most
swift and fierce was their onset, and the
inhospitable bad people broke and fled.
But Sahela, alas, took spear-thrust in
the chest Nor, although he drank plenty of
water and put his best foot foremost, could
he run we'll or long. So in time, he fell, re-
gretting and regretted, and Colo put him out
of his misery.
Seven ran on and, although there we're
certain narrow escapes from man and beast
and reptile, Colo led his six into Adds Ababa,
received the dozen of ale, turned and. still
at a fast jog trot, led them out again, himself
carrying two bottles, Assab carrying two,
Dawa carrying two, Fitoran carrying two.
Gale carrying two, Makon carrying one and
Holati carrying one.
ITO Assab, Dawa, Fitoran and Gale.
Colo entrusted two bottles each, because
they were lion-men, each having killed full
grown black named lion with one spear; were
champion runners; and were faithful unto
death.
Swift and untiring they ran back, and all
went well with them until they ran into a fog
- bad juju of inimcal gods indeed; for how
shall man run his fastest through forest in
a foo and how shall he see the enemy who