MY FELLOW SCOUTS 107 



those days, for, as Johnson said, he was between 

 the devil and the deep blue sea. With his own 

 eyes he had seen the destruction of the Portuguese 

 fort alongside his kraal, and no doubt had heard, 

 from the missionaries near him, the German 

 version or forecast of what was to happen in the 

 future. On the other hand, he had been warned 

 by Johnson and West, in several serious talks, as 

 to what would happen if he failed to send them 

 every news of German movements by his fastest 

 runner. 



One of Libebe's sons, named Sisho, and his old 

 Prime Minister (shall we call him ?) spent some 

 time with me on my previous hunting trip, and 

 when they left, had been promised that on our 

 return home a suit of clothes should be sent to 

 each of them by the missionaries. Since then the 

 war had broken out and upset everything. Luckily, 

 I had not forgotten this old promise, and so had 

 brought with me the expected clothes, and sure 

 enough the first question they asked (for both 

 were present at the indaba) was whether I had 

 remembered the promise. When the separate 

 parcel for each was produced, they expressed the 

 highest delight. Even a small thing like this 

 makes a big impression on native people, for they 

 realise that the white man's word is as good as 

 his bond, and can be relied upon. 



Next morning we separated, our route taking 

 us up the river, whilst Johnson and West turned 

 down-stream to investigate the report of a wagon 



