52 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



with Moyen, who carried my heavy double rifle. He 

 was a mere lad of about fifteen, with a big head and 

 lanky limbs. He was attired in a little piece of string 

 round his waist, two little skins about the size of your 

 hand, and a smile voila tout! He carried an assegai 

 and a small axe. He was born in the thorn country, 

 but his parents were of the warlike Ngwani tribe, and 

 the lad inherited all the gallantry which has enabled his 

 tribe to make their war shields respected far and wide 

 throughout the country. He was a very keen sports- 

 man, and of a very affectionate disposition. He ran 

 away from home to follow me. He was a very cheerful 

 lad, but the saying goes, " There is a skeleton in every 

 closet ". One day I saw Moyen brooding, and asked him 

 what was the matter. He answered me as follows : " I 

 am sorrowful because I have never yet killed anybody, 

 but I hope to do so as soon as I am big enough to go on 

 the warpath. Do you think I look big enough, sir? " 



He behaved on one occasion uncommonly well when 

 I was all but killed by a lioness, and I promoted him 

 to be my gun-bearer, a thing of which he was exces- 

 sively proud. 



We observed spoor of sea-cows everywhere ; but as 

 these creatures travel about a good deal at night, it was 

 difficult from the mere observation of spoor to judge of 

 their whereabouts during the daytime. I came to 

 where buffaloes had drunk that morning, and twice saw 

 water-buck, but did not fire as I wished to avoid alarming 

 the sea-cows. 



The river was a rocky one, and could be crossed at 

 almost any point where there were rapids. When I say 

 it might be crossed, I mean that one could get over by 

 wading waist deep ; but the crocodiles were so numerous 



