TIGER SLAYER BY ORDER 



saying that it is essential there should be general good- 

 fellowship between master and men, and throughout the 

 camp. This I had endeavoured to establish, with the 

 result that often on my return to the camp after a lucky 

 day's sport my smiling Somalis would clap me on the back 

 saying, " Good chap ! Good chap ! " — being all the English 

 they possessed — then dance round me clapping their hands 

 in the exuberance of their glee. 



On the other hand, if we had failed to secure some 

 wounded animal, or had had a poor day's sport, their 

 disappointment seemed to be as keen as my own, and they 

 would show their sympathy by many attentive little 

 actions. 



There was destined to be, however, an unpleasant, and 

 what might have proved tragic break in these harmonious 

 relations ; for, returning one evening from a long day's 

 chase after oryx, I was met by my head man Abdi, who, 

 evidently in a great state of excitement and apprehension, 

 reported that Khaliffa had mutinied and was deserting the 

 camp with some of his tribesmen. Telling Abdi to keep 

 quiet and not cause any further excitement among the men, 

 I walked into the zareba. Here I found Khaliffa, armed 

 with a rifle and a bundle of cartridges, held between his 

 teeth, leading one of my camels laden with provisions. On 

 asking him what he intended doing, he spat on the ground, 

 and, looking sullenly around, beckoned to some of his 

 tribesmen, who, all armed too, were standing near, to follow 

 him. 



There being no doubt as to his intentions, I determined 

 to squash the mutiny, for such it seemed to be, by taking 

 prompt and drastic measures — knowing that any delay, or 

 weakness on my part, would be fatal, and had quite made 

 up my mind that if this was to be the end of the expedition, 

 it should also be the ending of Khaliffa's career. 



Acting on this resolution, I picked up a twig from the 

 ground, and throwing it some distance from me towards the 

 entrance to the zareba, I told him that if he dared to pass 

 this twig I would shoot him on the spot — which I certainly 

 would have done. Hearing the click of my rifle as I put 

 it to full cock, he fell back, whereupon we promptly dis- 

 armed him. 

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