392 The Hunting Grounds 



gourd, which served as a water-vessel, on a stalk of 

 Indian corn about a hundred yards distant, and sent 

 a couple of bullet shots through it with my double 

 rifle ; and, whilst they were examining the weapon, I 

 slipped the extra loaded chambers in my revolvers 

 and again fired them off, much to their consternation 

 and wonder : indeed, they looked upon me as very 

 closely allied to "the nameless one," for I heard 

 them congratulating themselves in an undertone that 

 none of their enemies had demon-inspired pistols that 

 were of fatal aim and never required loading. 



When we again adjourned to the hut I found that 

 breakfast had been served, consisting of several dishes, 

 but I was most woefully disappointed in the cookery, 

 which was wretched in the extreme, I may say 

 execrable; for, although hungry, I could hardly 

 manage to swallow half-a-dozen mouthfuls : the bill of 

 fare consisting of rank goat's-flesh boiled up with 

 millet-seed, black broth, sundry preparations of sour 

 milk, smoked kouskous, and pillaf made of rancid 

 butter, roasted Indian corn, and black-looking maize 

 cakes. At last the repast was over, and, making some 

 excuse about looking after the horses, I bolted to my 

 people, whom I found comfortably established and 

 supplied with all they required. 



One of them had managed to get hold of a goose, 

 and, as I felt nearly ravenous, I devoted him to 

 " sudden death," converted him into a savoury mess 



