The Leopard Woman

nce began to take sights through a prismatic compass, entering the observations in a pocketbook. Mali-ya-bwana, bolt upright, stared out ov

er the different animals--the topi, the red hartebeeste, the eland, zebra, some warthogs, and many others. The beasts were an

te 2: G

the cup of the sky. Elsewhere the heavens meet the horizon: in Africa they lie beyond it, so that when the round, fleecy clouds of the Little Rains sail down the wind there is always a fleet of them beyond the earth disappearing into the immensities of the infinite. There is space

the world showed dim and blue the tops of a short range of mountains. Vainly did Kingozi sweep his glasses over the landscape in hope of another line of green. No watercourse was visible. On the other hand, the scattered growth of thorn trees showed no signs of thickening to the dense spiky jungle that is one of the terrors of African travel. There might be a watercourse hidden in the folds of the earth; there might be a rainwat

the porter, indicating

" Mali-ya-b

them on an open plain three or four miles back in the direction fro

d, unmoved. "A very large safar

ainly. After his fashion of talking aloud, he reported what he

s sick! Many porters--four are no more white men. More _askaris!_" He smiled a little contemptuously under his beard. "This is a great safari, Mali-ya-bwana.

e troops, armed wi

g on a long pole, and carri

os might think," repli

up at him with

ot you

arried. He does not need _askaris_ to guard him in th

ised. "This is not porter's t

of many people," replied Mali-

carry my

ly, fixing his fierce eyes on

bably one of these chappies with more money than sense: wants to go somewhere nobody else has been, and can't go there without his caviare and his ch

y. "Whoever it is will be a nuisanc

ana's cheerful response to this s

is _potio_ to be had for so large a safari? Trouble--much trouble!"

intercept the caravan, Kin

past them in increasing numbers, some headlong, others at a dignified and leisurely gait, as though performin

range, estimating each element on which a judgment could be based. As usual, he thought aloud, mu

not Sniders they carry--don't know that kind of musket. Those

5: Genuine

p with a gentle gliding. Eight more walked alongside as relay. They would change places so skilfully that the occupant of the hammock could no

be is that m

-bwana was

, bwana. He is

te 6: W

flat, wide nose, thick lips, and small yellow eyes were set off by an upstanding mop of hair. His expre

m the west coast, or perhaps Nubia or

_shenzis_," Mali-ya-bwan

is is a sportsman, from what part did he hai

me opposite his concealmen

_once_, why should he not do anything under heaven he wants to? A locomotive, an automobile, a flying machine are miracles, but no less--and no greater--than ordinary matches. Once admit the ability to transcend natural laws, once admit the possibi

th unanimity the bearers swarmed across the little open space toward and to either side of Kingozi and his attendant. Reaching the fringe of flat-topped trees they sprang into the low branches, heedless of the long thorns

Nubian. Of these the _askaris_ were far ahead and to the rear; the hammock bearers were decidedly panicky

ded straight for the hammock. That was large, moving, and directly in his line of vision. The sight was too much for the bearers. With a howl they

the other of the heavy rifle he carried. The recoil, catching him in a bad posture, knocked him backward. The bullets kicked up a tremendous dust part

ready. He was a good hundred yards from the hammock. Even in the rush of events he, characteristica

Rotten shooting! rotten!" as the Nubian stood his ground. At the same time

but if he will wait until the beast is within twenty yards or so, the affair is certain. For this reason: just before a rhinoceros closes, he drops his head low in order to bring his long horn into action. If the hunter fires then, over the horn, he will strike the beast's backbone. The shot can hardly be missed, for

In addition the heavy double rifle, while accurate enough at that range, was not, owing to its weight and terrific recoil, as certain as a lighter rif

is head for the toss, the Nubian ste

e down!" Kin

reached the Nubian's consciousness. He dropped

career, going down, as an animal always does under a successf

hot, master," sa

. At the same time the occupant of the hammock