FUNDI 



"You learned this also by watching?" 



"Yes, bwana, I watched the gunbearers by the 

 fire, evenings." 



Evidently Fundi had been preparing for his 

 chance. 



Next day, as he walked alongside, I noticed that 

 he had not removed the leather cap, or sight pro- 

 tector, that covers the end of the rifle and is fast- 

 ened on by a leather thong. Immediately I called 

 a halt. 



"Fundi," said I, "do you know that the cover 

 should be in your pocket? Suppose a rhinoceros 

 jumps up very near at hand: how can you get time 

 to unlace the thong and hand me the rifle?" 



He thrust the rifle at me suddenly. In some 

 magical fashion the sight cover had disappeared! 



"I have thought of this," said he, "and I have tied 

 the thong, so, in order that it come away with one 

 pull, and I snatch it off, so, with my left hand while 

 I am giving you the gun with my right hand. It 

 seemed good to keep the cover on, for there are 

 many branches, and the sight is very easy to injure." 



Of course this was good sense, and most ingenious; 

 Fundi bade fair to be quite a boy, but the native 

 African is very easily spoiled. Therefore, although 

 my inclination was strongly to praise him, I did 

 nothing of the sort. 



199 



