The Leopard Woman

y tired, and Kingozi considered it advisable to let them rest. They had covered probably thirty-five miles. Cazi Moto had found no water, and no traces of water. Furthermore, the game had thinned

e plains used to line the flight of bees. The tank proved to be a deep, hidden recess far back under over

ater. It is an unknown

w f

r ho

stowed on him the wo

act, but just across the little dry stream-bed.

t bush, thicket, or clump of grass. Such a camp straggles abominably. But here was no such confusion. Back from the water-hole a hundred yards, atop a slight rise, and under the thickest of the trees, stood a large green tent with a projecting fly. A huge pile of firewood had been dumped

across the in

g variety. On a spread of figured blue cloth stood a bottle of lime juice, a sparklets, and an enamelwar

ch the thin silk defined. Her figure in the long chair fell into sinuous, graceful, relaxed lines. As he approached she looked at him over the glowing cigarette; and her eyes seemed

lf to himself, half to his co

-chui_--the Leopard Woman-- was the name by whi

any way, but turned her

na_; bring cigarettes; brin

imself establis

. The soft silk fell in new lines about her, defining new curves.

ned, so I had the porters beaten. That was horrid, was it not? Do you understand it? I suppose not. Men have no nerves, like women. T

ankles below her robe. She observed him with slanted eyes, and a

f fever mosquitoes i

d eyebrows, with their perpetual air of surprise, move

here are no people here. When in the fever country I have my 'rig'"--subtly she shaded the word--"

e that one uses to instruct a child, but with

zi la

m interested. It is difficult to realize that a

of his face broke into wrinkles of laughter; his steady eyes twinkled; his smile showed strong white

have instructed me about my marching; you have even instructed me about my clo

" he smiled; "but rea

urned on her elbow to face him. "Listen! I

d raised the ciga

t her speechless with surpris

ame respectful consideration you a

in genuine

continued Kingozi. "A wom

other words, what in--what- you-call? Oh, yes

a wide-eyed stare.

n--in hell _are_ y

find that which people tell me cannot be done, that I do--at once. My lif

id Kingozi, but he

I came to Africa, and in Africa I have done what they tell me women have never done. I have travelled in the Kameroons, in Nyassaland, in Somaliland, in Abyssinia. Then they tell me--'yes, that is very well, but you follow a tr

gesticulation, her eyes flashing. In proportion as she beca

of adventure, and all that sort of

ha

ed his

ur

im a barely appr

ual way--fro

ibes," Kingozi replied blandly. "So you are pushing

pleases me

produced

e deliberately filled and lighted it.

you say, is un

cour

ternoon that you knew of this w

him in obviously assumed innocence. She ex

, "you were not mistak

ngozi turn

he replied naively. "Women alway

h--uncomfortably,

men!" With one of her sudden smooth movements she again

e replied e

oth la

was succeeded by another on a different key. The two took up a kind of antiphony, one against the oth

that rhino," remarked

they listened to th

even yet for this afternoon," she sai

e there; and l

nderful shot at that distance

good luck," replie

y his tone,

y many to be the be

nced a

at a mistake. For w

ced the name slowly, syllable by syllable, as t

lau

. I am known as Ki

not Cul-b

leases you to have

darling, pouting at him i

me. For that I shall n

not matte

now! B

many t

it then?

is strong bronze face cast into the wistful lines of the savage countenance in repose. The lions had evidently compounded their quarrel. Only an occasional rasping cough testified to their presence. But in the direction of the de

i_," he told

her red lower lip cau

known! You, Kingozi--the Bearded One; I, Bibi-ya-chui--the

l about each ot

it, but I have asked few. What do you do in this strange

am an ivor

o find the el

--or ivory

the magic pass, and presto! it is in M

ut you see my habit is to get my ivory first and then to get _shenzis_ fr

next to say. Kingozi perceived a dancing temptatio

aid finally in

e is a keen one," he reflected admiringly. "Ca

et, knocking the a

-morrow?" he a

have not

course you will not risk a blind push with so many men.

d gravely; but Kingozi thought

sed hi

oy

d from one of the s

i abruptly wished he

she replied

l stars blazed above him like candles. K

ly not exactly the impression the Leopard Wo