he was known to every one and seemed to have friends 

 everywhere ; and if he had not, he made them on the 

 spot annexed and overwhelmed them. 



From time to time you do meet people like that. 

 The world's their oyster, and the gift of a masterful 

 and infinite confidence opens it every time : they 

 walk through life taking of the best as a right, and 

 the world unquestioningly submits. 



I had many troubles with Jim, but never on account 

 of white men : drunk or sober, there was never trouble 

 there. It may have been Rorke's Drift and Ulundi 

 that did it ; but whatever it was, the question of 

 black and white was settled in his mind for ever. He 

 was respectful, yet stood upright with the rough 

 dignity of an unvanquished spirit ; but on the one 

 great issue he never raised his hand or voice again. 

 His troubles all came from drink, and the exasperation 

 was at times almost unbearable so great, indeed, 

 that on many occasions I heartily repented ever having 

 taken him on. Warnings were useless, and punish- 

 ment well, the shiny new skin that made patterns 

 in lines and stars and crosses on his back for the rest 

 of his life made answer for always upon that point. 



The trials and worries were often great indeed. 

 The trouble began as soon as we reached a town, and 

 he had a hundred excuses for going in, and a hundred 

 more for not coming out : he had some one to see, 

 boots to be mended, clothes to buy, or medicine to 

 get the only illness I ever knew him have was 

 ' a pain inside,' and the only medicine wanted 

 grog ! some one owed him money a stock excuse, 

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