Wilmshurst of the Frontier Force

berate way contrasted forcibly with Wilmshurst's quick, incisive manner; his slow dialect would have irr

Gregor had referred to his brother i

peated with an acce

r a couple of trips into German East. The last ti

hidden store of ammunition, I

d slowly, puffing s

Had no option, so to speak. Then, in connection with the same business, I penetrated into German South-West Africa. I was in Bersheba for near

distilling plant. That completed I thought I'd trek back to Rhodesia and do a bit in German East. Thinking I would do the trip round quicker by sea I

respecting his brother. The answers received were far from satisfactory, for MacGregor seemed to make a

ther you may get in touch with him, but German East is a

e, you know. As regards numbers or our scene of action I haven't the r

much matter whether I join the Rhodesian contingent, although I'd prefer to, or get attached to one of the Boer detachments, or

tell Wilmshurst the result of the interview with the colonel until the transp

eable business, but in ideal climatic conditions the convoy, with two destroyers still on e

e to a signal from one of the destroyers they revealed themselves as two Dutch trading ships bound from Batavia t

om the destroyer, but their papers being quite in order and nothing of a s

troyed by a British cruiser, but not in time to prevent them landing two

e like that," commented Spofforth. "Those guns are as

bit of heart into Fritz and make him buck up.

to the Boers in the South African War. It destroyed their mobility to a great extent, and not until we h

rman East," commented Danvers. "I'd rather tackle a dozen batteries than

y huge baobab trees were growing. The shores surrounding the harbour were low and covered with mangroves, but in and out could be discerned several lofty hills. Here and there could be

Americans during the construction of the Panama Canal. Consequently much of the terrors of the fever-stricken port of Kilwa in by-gone days had disappeare

nse activity prevailed, the men being strenuously subjected to the acclimatising process, while the horses and mules had to be carefully watched les

s over they had to attend lectures, tactical problems

hat had no actual existence, while on the other hand passable tracks were discovered that were not shown on the maps. More than likely the wily Huns allowed what were presumed to be official maps to fall into the han

to the same battalion to which Wilmshurst belonged. Gradually his taciturnity diminished, unti

h and Laxdale snatched the opportunity of going on a lion-hunt

purposes only these terribly destructive missiles are allowable), and with Sergt. Bela Moshi and

been terrorising the inhabitants by their nocturnal depredations. Here the horses were

xdale. "Hanged if I want to spend all night lugg

timism of amateur huntsmen and the general disincli

arance," he replied. "Of course we might strike his spoor and

rkness a halt was called, for until the bush was flooded with

the bleat of a goat, while further away still could be he

ight upon us," whispered Spofforth. "I, being the tallest

massive of limb. At the last regimental sports he carried off the running, long-jump and hurdle events, while as a boxer and a w

h they would have lighted a roaring fire, one of the most effec

e-hued orb of night rose above the distant sea. As the shadows shortened th

ple of lions was distinctly visible, Laxdale suddenly disappeared, while Wilmshurst, who wa

e luckless subaltern's shouts mingled

dale in desperation. "I've a whole me

ddie," expostulated MacGregor, kneeling at the edge

of trees overlaid with broad leaves on which earth had been thrown and lightly pressed so as to give it the appearance of part of the beaten track. In the floor of the pit pointed stakes had been driven, but fortunately Laxdale had fallen between them

ive us warning of the beastly trap? Here, Beta Moshi, cut a couple of young trees and knock

p down and put your suggestion to the practical test. I believe I'm being chawn

-ready ladder having been constructed, Laxdale, little the w

been frightened away, for their deep, characteristic roar could be heard wi

r following a fresh spoor for miles the hunters drew blank. At

Wilmshurst. "It savours of mosquitoe

ulted his wr

ced. "If we are to be in camp by

nters were standing attracted their attention. With rifles ready to open

his companions could grasp the situation the subaltern plunged into the gras

ts," he remarked triumphantly. "The

asked Spofforth facetiously. "Use it as a d

ll act as a decoy," said Laxdale.

shurst. "Hanged if we can hear anything with that n

the silent form of the Rhodesian, as he stood motion

MacGregor?" en

shook

replied, "but I must

his companions as they tramped in single file along the narrow

hile the blacks skinned the dead beast, for in practically waterless districts panther-skin is a valuable aid to the efficiency of a Maxim gun. Soaked in

the white men were able to walk side

a Moshi with the cub was close on Dudley's heels, while the Haussas with the dead panther were some d

at the native sergeant was stumbling frequently a

Moshi, handing the cub to the

turn pretty sharply. What they saw was something that they had badly wan

r that when the men halted her opportunity would come to recover the little animal. A lioness bereft of her cubs has been known to follow hunters for da

stood about fifty yards away. Strange to relate, MacGregor followed suit, thrusting a clip of cartridges into the magazine of his

, swaying gently on his toes, his bulky figure t

a high-pitched, unnatural voic

another, a sense of camaraderie urged him to remain an impassive spectator of the impending struggle between an u

st as her forepaws touched the ground, and the next ins

e-like grip. With his feet dug firmly, into the ground he held, swaying to and fro but not giving a

r paw that, but for the protection afforded by his double pith helmet would have brained the man. For a few seconds Spofforth reeled, his head-gear fe

d the unequal conflict, until his will-power overcoming the initial stage

to separate two large and ferocious dogs engaged in combat Wilmshurst edged towards the fla

by the shoulders and unceremoniously jerked him aside; then liftin

the dust in her death agonies. Then with a sharp shudder the animal stretched herself and died, while the subal

he greatly concerned Haussas improvised a litter made of rifles and coats. Upon this the badly-mauled subaltern was placed and th

Gregor?" ask

ers exchanged en

hen he was making for the baobab. We were a set of blighters scoo

nly man on the spot who had a rifle ready, yet generou

acGregor," ordered Wilmshu

promptly he set off towards the baobab

y of a cat swarmed up to one of the lowermost branches. Both Laxdale and Danvers could

uddled black and khaki hardly distinguishable from the sun-baked bark. Then he dropped light

" exclaimed Danvers, and the thre

nscious, but on examination no trace of an injury could be found. In his panic he had succeeded

s eyes. Gradually their haunted expression gave place to a look of

ad cold feet with a vengeance-a

get out of the way of the lioness," rejoined Laxdale. "Goo

bad beginning, this running away business. I only h

eling fit to foot it? Good. We've got to g

ly the rough-and-ready stretcher was overtaken. Upon arriving at the camp the medical staff

medical officer. "Unless complications set in he'll be