HUNTING AND HUNTED IN BELGIAN CONGO 



distance. Espying the boy's loincloth, I ripped it off 

 and tried to plug the gaping wound from which the warm 

 blood flowed in a stream all over me, and settled in a pool 

 on the ground. His features were ghastly, and in another 

 few seconds he was foaming at the mouth and fell forward 

 with a gurgle, my left arm in which I had the gun, went 

 out in support as he tottered ; and as I beheld his quiver- 

 ing body I perceived that he had two other arrows 

 between his shoulder-blades, beside other large gashes 

 that had evidently been caused by spears. His case was 

 hopeless. All this time a scrimmage was taking place 

 within a few yards of us, although we could not see 

 through the dense grass. I could hear, however, that 

 Kalakese was being dragged off, for he was loudly shriek- 

 ing, " Bwana, Bwana." It was of no use attempting to 

 rescue him, for we were in a tight corner, and I knew that 

 the grass or matamma was alive with naked savages 

 waiting with tightened bow-strings for our appearance. 



Juma had taken a few steps ahead, and shouted to me 

 saying that a clear open space was close by. I ordered 

 Salem and Monica to carry Karetese forward, while I 

 covered the retreat with the gun, and we managed to 

 carry him to the centre of the fresh tilled field some two 

 acres in extent. Ordering Monica to stand by Karetese's 

 quivering body, I returned with the other two who were 

 left alive, to recover some of my lost loads. 



In the bucket that Karetese had carried were a 

 bottle of condensed milk, a jar of jam, a tin of sugar, and 

 other minor articles. The milk and sugar were all mingled 

 together. Kalakese's load had vanished, and so had the 

 thirty-five odd rounds of ammunition, together with my 

 folding bed, bath and chair. We got together as much as 

 the boys could reasonably carry, and dashed ahead out 

 for the open again. The whole country was soon echoing 

 with whistles and subdued shouts. We could hear 

 whispering all around us, heads popped up on all sides. 



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