254 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA ch. xix 



slipped into the rifle without his knowledge, but 

 when I asked him why he had pointed it in my 

 direction and pulled the trigger, he could give no 

 satisfactory reply. 



As carelessness or rascality of this kind is a very 

 serious matter and could not be allowed to go un- 

 punished, I told him that he must be severely dealt 

 with, and ordered the Headman to give him a 

 good thrashing, which, of course, was a great 

 indignity for a gun-bearer. He was a cowardly 

 rascal, and I had often been obliged to admonish 

 him for skulking in the rear or for running up a tree 

 with the rifle when danger threatened— indeed, I had 

 had to do so on that very morning. He now howled 

 vigorously under his punishment, but it had a good 

 effect upon him. I deprived him for some days 

 of all weapons, and never afterwards throughout 

 the journey did I allow him to follow me, but 

 always made him go on just ahead, so that I could 

 keep an eye on him, as I never knew what villainy 

 he might be up to. He improved considerably 

 under strict discipline, and was quite a different man 

 by the time we reached Nairobi. 



I had several rascals of this kind in the safari 

 who needed close supervision and prompt punish- 

 ment when they did wrong. Otherwise they would 

 have become utterly unmanageable and mutinous in 

 the wilds. 



