296 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap. 



boy to put a loaded revolver under his pillow every 

 night, and what possibly happened is that this may 

 have slipped down under his shoulder, and when B. 

 put out his hand to remove it, he may have pulled 

 the trigger by accident and so shot himself. Had 

 I known that he always kept a loaded revolver 

 under his pillow I should most certainly have 

 removed the weapon, as in my experience I have 

 invariably found that a revolver is more dangerous 

 to the owner than to anybody else. 



Meanwhile Mrs. B. had rushed up with the 

 others to know what had happened, but as I wished 

 to spare her the awful shock, I asked her to return 

 to my tent, and told her that I would come in a few 

 minutes to explain matters to her. 



As soon as possible I went to break the tragic 

 news as gently as I could, telling her that B. had 

 had a grave revolver accident, and that I hoped she 

 would, with her usual pluck, try to bear up under 

 the terrible blow with what fortitude she could 

 command. She did not at first realise everything I 

 meant to convey, and it was with difficulty that I 

 made her understand that all was over. The blow 

 was so sudden that she seemed quite dazed and 

 unable to grasp the real situation. I therefore 

 thought it was best to leave her alone, and came 

 away, giving my boy careful instructions to look 

 after her, and do all he could for her until I 



