HUNTING AND HUNTED IN BELGIAN CONGO 



Our plight was indeed serious. As we stood looking on 

 the fast flowing waters, a sound of twigs crackling came 

 from just behind ; the boys hid behind a large bush that 

 hung partly over the bank on which we stood and reached 

 down to the water. I turned round and sought the shelter 

 of a large tree-trunk and waited. Presently three natives 

 came walking along cautiously until, on reaching the 

 water's edge, they turned round and saw us. I had the 

 gun in my hand, but did not level it at them, for by their 

 manner I could see that there was no immediate danger. 

 Salem addressed them and a conversation ensued. To 

 my surprise they dropped their bows and two of them 

 entered the water and tested its depth, but found it 

 impassable ; the elder, a man of considerable age, 

 beckoned to me to follow them as they worked down 

 stream and searched for a suitable spot. For a moment 

 I could not understand the meaning of this sudden 

 change, but not only did they find a crossing place 

 where the river was dotted with numerous islands of 

 grass, which rendered our passage easier, but they 

 actually helped us across and even stood with us for 

 some minutes on the other bank. I gave them three 

 times the quantity of beads that I should have done 

 under ordinary circumstances, and they actually shook 

 hands with us before returning to their own side of the 

 river. 



It seemed almost too good to be true. It was like 

 awaking from a horrible nightmare. Before they had 

 regained their own shore a large concourse of savages 

 had arrived at the water's edge, and now regarded us 

 uttering howls and cries of derision, shaking their fists 

 at us and trying to spit over at us. 



With a wave of the hand to them in farewell I gave 

 the order to go forward, and brought up the rear. As I 

 turned and entered the bush a great chorus of shouts 

 went up from the natives as we set off up the incline 



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