The Leopard Woman

s a little band of zebra scrambled away. The borders of this pool were a fascinating palimpsest: the tracks of many sorts of beast had been impressed there in th

ceros, and all the other usual inhabitants of the veldt. But over these their eyes passed lightly. Only three things could here intere

one. He was here this morning. But

ng had stood or wallowed in it. The flavour would be rich of the barnyard, which even a strong infus

op of the bank, and were resting in utter rel

listless slouch that had conserved his strength

wn the river[1] and look for another p

ny water at all, even in occasional p

e other direction?

, and again up the dry stream-bed where, as far as th

late. Soon the lions wi

hed and began to rise to their feet slowly. The short rest had stiffened them and brought home the weariness to their bones. They grumbled and mu

the edge of the bank. The t

e big tent here; the opening in that dir

and most reliable of the men, so that always, even on a straggling march, the tent would arrive first--threw it down at the place

ali-ya-bwana, the tent bearer; and the others methodically took up various tasks. Some began with their _pangas_ to hew a way to the water through the dense thicket that had kept it sweet; others sought firewood; still othe

cork helmet. The day had not only been a hard one, but an anxious one, for this country was new to every member of the l

e at first made probable by the heavy beard. With the helmet pulled low this was late middle age; now bareheaded it was only bearded youth. Nevertheless at the corners of the eyes were ce

nother of the new- born camp's activities. One after ano

said Sanguiki coming fro

," approv

ed Simba, reaching his h

r's tents had completed their circle, and in front of each new smoke was beginning to rise. Cazi Moto glided

vely, aroused himself with an apparent effort, and began to separate it into four piles. He did not handle the m

ng with his foot the heavy "backstraps" and the liver--th

ndo!" h

be arose from one of the little fires and approache

d; then "Monumwezi";

were supplied. The men returned to their fires,

one end. On the floor was a portable canvas bath. While the white man was divesting himself of his accoutrements, Cazi Moto entered bearing

he, and retired, carefully ty

ked into canvas "mosquito boots," with very thin soles. He looked scrubb

d simply of a platter of curry composed of rice and the fresh meat that had been so recently killed that it had not time to get tough. This was supplemented by bread and tea in a tall enamelware vessel known as a _balauri_. Fro

ires before the tiny white tents. The tatterdemalion crew had, after the curious habit of Africans, cast aside its garments, and sat forth in a bronze and savage nakedness. All day long under the blistering sun your safari man will wear all that he hath, even unto the heavy overcoa

yet his day's work was not quite done, and he was unwilling

oto!" h

med, the headman

y, and paused in decision so long tha

s of the next water, or to find the water. See if there are people

_bwa

there

o m

them

raised h

!_" he sum

at them in sile

of the first, a hulking, stupid- looking

h Kingozi understood perfectly, he awaited his headman's repetition

he first time speaking his own tongue. "We'll soon see

eneath the Kavirondo's tongue, gla

tes, "this man is a liar. He is not sick; he

s rolling, shot forth

that he was very sick, but that this medici

e, but magic that tells me when a man has uttered l

b was over and Kingozi had washed his hands, he relighted his pipe and sat back in his chair with a sigh of content. The immediate foreground sank below his

ngs here and there, the stamp of hoofs, sharp snortings as taut nerves stretched. Zebras uttered the absurd small-dog barks peculiar to them; ostriches boomed; jackals yapped; unknown birds uttered hasty wild calls. Numer

arently, a low, vibrating rumble stole out of the night's immensity. It rose and seemed to draw near, growing hollow and great, until the very ground seemed to tremble as though a heavy train w

the other night creatures down--it almost seemed--to the very insects had ceased their calls and cries and chirp

l on the fires, coaxing the flame brighter. A

mba!_" they hissed

had r