A RECUSANT STEED. 



265 



underbrush dense, I doubt very much whether a 

 mounted man can overtake it at all, unless he be as 

 reckless a rider as Mr. Baldwin, of South African 

 hunting fame, or the late Major Persse, of the 13th 

 Light Infantry ; but then he was a Galvvay Persse, 

 and a " Blazer'' to boot. 



By this time my Massara had come up, and close 

 on his heels were some of my people, followed by a 

 tag-rag and bobtail of the natives. Where the last had 

 sprung from it would be difficult to say, for I had not 

 seen a single individual during the chase. These 

 people arc just like the vultures. Not one may be 

 in sight, but the moment you slaughter anything 

 they will make their appearance in force, till every 

 rock and point of observation in your proximity is 

 perfectly crowded with them. 



The strangers evinced considerable trepidation at 

 first in coming near the white man, but the Massara 

 assured them that he was harmless, and did not wish 

 to eat any of their " piccaninies," after which assertion 

 they became objectionably obtrusive. These people 

 are of the Macalaca race, and vassals of Lobengulo. 

 Their lot is rather a hard one, for being cowards 

 they are bullied by every one However, a white 

 man can have little s)inpathy w ith them on account 

 of their misfortunes, for they are incorrigible thieves 

 and most audacious liars. 



Having given instructions to my people for the 

 game to be skinned, cut up, and carried int.o camp, 

 and to employ some of the Macalacas to assist them 

 in the last duty, for which service they were to be 

 paid in flesh, I started for the westward, whence I had 

 heard the report of several shots. On my way I 

 came across the blind-eyed " moke," who had 

 evidently, while his master was busy, taken the oppor- 

 tunity to slip off. No cares seemed to oppress his 

 mind, nor did any thoughts of danger attached to 

 such a course appear to occur to him. The gra.,J 



W ii7:' 



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