HUNTING AND HUNTED IN BELGIAN CONGO 



but I was surprised and disappointed when the whole 

 thing turned and rushed on with the furious dashing 

 waters. The tree was just about two feet too short to 

 span the stream and keep itself clear of the water. Madly 

 we all started in pursuit, and half a mile lower down the 

 trunk was arrested by three huge boulders in the river. 

 After a great deal of labour we succeeded in cutting a 

 number of bushes, branches, etc., and with the vines 

 and lianas of neighbouring trees, made an apology for a 

 bridge. Several of the boys got a ducking, but the loads 

 were passed over without mishap. 



One evening long after sundown, when all was dark, 

 we were camped on a little clearing by the edge of a small 

 forest-like glade. One of my boys left the camp for 

 some purpose, and presently returned in a great state of 

 excitement, and rushed towards me shouting — 



" Bwana, the Shinzis are coming." 



Expecting a surprise attack, I waited with gun in 

 hand, while the excited creature was whispering in a 

 hoarse voice to the frightened carriers of what he had 

 seen and heard. It appeared that he had been gathering 

 some wild red fruit, and heard a disturbance in the grass 

 close by. 



"No, it was not nyama" (meat). He had heard 

 them talking, and every one was in a great state of excite- 

 ment, when lo ! and behold out of the glade in the very 

 direction that he had indicated there came three of my 

 own boys bearing huge lumps of wild honey. They 

 had stolen away from camp under cover of darkness to 

 gather it. Every one breathed freely after that, and the 

 alarmist had a lot of chaff thrown at him. 



It was here the next morning that I gave Kadjaka, 

 one of the boys, some of my shirts, socks, etc., to wash, 

 and on strolling along the riverside half an hour later 

 I observed him just ahead of me squatted down by the 

 bundle of linen, which lay across a large boulder. He 



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