The Leopard Woman

erect, so the head and face were invisible. Kingozi's countenance did not change, but a faint contempt appeared in his eyes. The first impression conveyed by the numbers of the ti

nder waist, and then ballooned out to an absurd widt

Swahili contempt. He did not know he spoke aloud; for it is not well for

," he c

" He burst into an unexpected laugh. "It isn't balloon breeches; it's _hips!_" he c

ancy being dumped down incontinently before an angry rhinoceros. After a moment, however, her attitude lost its rigidity, she gestured toward the

tion, and yet one that looked competent to transcend the usual feminine incompetencies. So far she measured to a high but customary standard. But her face was as exotic as an orchid. It was long, narrow, and pale with three accents to redeem it from what that ordinarily implies--lips of a

t," was Kingozi's greeting. "It's absurd to go barging through a rhin

at him, her sea-green eyes darkening to greater depths. This did not disturb Kingoz

drawn near in curiosity. From the thorn trees across the tiny grass opening porters were descending, very gingerly, and with lamentations

he addressed the soldiers. "

is head and jaw thrust forward, stared after them, his eyes-- indeed, his whole personality--projecting aggressive force. The men hurried to their positions

to the woman. Although her bosom still heaved with emotion, it was

my safari?" she said. "You think I ca

e words, some ultra-clarity of pronunciation, rather than a reco

are slack," said

sweeping with an almost theatrical gesture t

er all they are common porters. You can't expect gun-bearer

obvious. In contrast to his detached almost indifferent calm, the woman was an embodiment of em

tented hersel

un crazy," pursued Kingozi tranqui

, when it pleases them to run?" she deman

s that you have no business to ride i

ntrol slipped

to teach me

zi's careless, candid st

ied with an edge of intention in his tones. Their gla

to the hamm

!_ I suppose," she observed politely to Kingozi, "that you will admit

be punished; that

y apiece," she o

i. "Six is a great plenty for such pe

e Nubian, without a glance i

stice to the occasion is a great task. The Nubian's face streamed sweat when he had finished. The bearers, who had taken t

_" summone

ame tr

your guns!

ppeared in King

o_ your _askar

er head in h

me to questio

I am intereste

lay quietly face down until their mistress gave the word, then leaped to their feet, saluted smartly, seized their gun

of punishment had cleared away the nervo

t you call know my way about. See how my men fall into line. It will

t her sea-green eyes remai

ledged Kingozi without interest.

she repeated. "I d

d you really have until

ejoined haughtily, "I shall get out agai

the merest flicker of the tail of his eye touched the dead rhino. His expression remained quite b

sharply. The men began

m an afternoon tea. "By the way, do you happen to care for information about the ne

ed, the make-up of their loads, the nature of their equipment; marking the lame ones, or the weak ones, or the ones recently sick. His eye fell on the figure of the strange woma

ide makes you say so." He was talking aloud, in English. Mali- ya-bwana stood attentiv

can come out to get what they wish of

_bwa

re than I did. Small chance. Still, if she has informati

rifle to the cr

ld Mali-ya-bwana. "And this evening we wil