

CHILD OF THE EVIL ONE. 67 



When thus secured, he never made an attempt 

 at resistance, but with the utmost submission 

 was led to his allotted place in the team, all the 

 time behaving as the most submissive, willing, and 

 good-tempered of servitors. While this fracas had 

 been going on the camp-fires had become scattered 

 and almost extinguished, so the absence of the dogs 

 was not noticed, but presently there arose on the 

 stillness of the night a diabolical clamour of angry 

 throats, proclaiming that every cur had a voice in 

 the disturbance. We supposed the cause of this din 

 to be the discovery of a porcupine or an ant-bear, 

 so all went on with their respective occupations. 

 However, this was not for long, for soon a rush was 

 made in our direction, and something almost as big 

 as a donkey passed by my side, upset a nigger, 

 almost ricocheted off Ackerman, and, as rapidly as 

 it had made its appearance, disappeared into the 

 heavy shadows afforded by some adjoining trees. 

 With stentorian lungs, every hound followed in close 

 pursuit, vowing vengeance, and the violence they 

 would do the enemy the moment they were able to 

 overtake him. Ackerman, child of the evil one, 

 concocter of mischief, rebellious offspring of an 

 impure mother (terms addressed to him by my 

 attendants), took advantage of the disturbance, 

 made a dash forward, broke his rheim, and in a 

 moment was " cavorting" free over the veldt. Loud 

 and deep were the curses now hurled at him by 



