IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



They will scour the forest in search of their enemy. 

 They move very fast if they have the scent, making 

 one immense bound after another." 



" I will set fire to the leopard's den," I replied ; 

 " there are many dead branches, and the fire will spread 

 quickly, and the leopards will not know about our 

 being here." At the same time I lighted a match, 

 and set fire to a spot where there were many dead 

 branches and dried leaves. Soon everything was in 

 a blaze, but in that great and damp forest fires never 

 spread far. We left the spot, and as soon as we were 

 in the path we ran as fast as our feet and legs could 

 carry us towards the river and our island, with visions 

 of leopards bounding at full speed after us. Once in 

 a while I could hear the voice of Rogala say : " Go 

 on, Oguizi, go on!" At other times when I saw 

 him flagging, I would shout : " Come on, come on, 

 Rogala ! " 



I was quite ahead after a while, and as I came in 

 sight of the river I saw a number of savage-looking 

 men on our island. I counted twenty of them. 

 They looked fierce, and their bodies were covered with 

 war-paint. They carried ugly-looking barbed spears 

 and shields made of elephant skins. Their leader 

 walked ahead of them. He was short, and looked 

 fiercer than the rest. They advanced cautiously, and 



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