440 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



out seeing anything, when feeling somewhat tired 

 I returned to the hut. 



As I got near 1 heard a row going on, and found 

 that Tom Dick had caught Fortuna carrying off a 

 tin box containing cloth and ammunition, and had 

 charged him with the theft, upon which the culprit 

 and three of the villagers, who doubtless were ac- 

 complices, had taken their guns and threatened to 

 shoot my Kroomen. Luckily I came up just in 

 time, and levelling my revolver at Fortuna's head, 

 I snatched the musket which I had given him out 

 of his hand and knocked him down with the butt- 

 end, when he attempted to bolt. The other three 

 were also secured, when I sent for the king, and 

 upon looking up my property found that the 

 greatest part of the tobacco was missing. 



When the king and some of his people came up, 

 I went into the case, and as there was no doubt as 

 to Fortuna's guilt — for one of the villagers 

 confessed, and brought back the tobacco— I 

 ordered Tom Dick to tie him up to a tree, and 

 give him three dozen lashes with a rope's end, 

 before all the villagers. After these had been well 



