12 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



slowly to within fifty yards of the bush, and the 

 trader dropped it with a bullet through the heart. 



Fearing that his shot might have been heard 

 by his enemies, he quickly cut off some of the 

 meat and, returning to the tall grass, travelled 

 several miles before he dared build a fire and 

 cook a meal. 



When he was again ready to move on, dark- 

 ness had fallen and the chilly, tropical night 

 seemed to penetrate to his bones. As nearly as 

 possible he followed the route over which he had 

 passed a few days before. Not far ahead was a 

 village in which he had been hospitably received. 



He reached this village about midnight. A 

 boy was sleeping by a smouldering camp-fire. 

 The hunter's entrance awakened the lad, who 

 spoke to him, and their conversation roused two 

 of the villagers who appeared and also engaged 

 him in conversation. 



Seated by the fire, his rifle lying on the 

 ground by his side, the white man was trying 

 to explain what had happened to him the night 

 before, when from a near-by hut he caught the 

 sound of some one loading a muzzle-loading gun. 

 Not wanting to appear alarmed by leaving so 

 soon, he finished his story as quickly as possible, 



