LAST MISSION TO AFRICA. 
103 
bushes. When I rode round, he went out at the side op- 
posite to me ; and in this manner I hunted him amongst 
the bushes for some time, but never losing sight of him. 
At last he run past a spreading tree, and jumping back, 
stood close to the trunk of it. I thought I should certainly 
lose him if I did not avail myself of the present opportu- 
nity. I accordingly fired, and dropping my musket on 
the pummel of the saddle, drew out one of the pistols, and 
told him if he offered to move, I would instantly shoot him 
dead. " Do not kill me, white man," he exclaimed, 
" I cannot run from you, you have broke my leg." I now 
observed the blood streaming down his leg ; and when he 
pulled up his cloth, I saw that the ball had passed through 
his leg about two inches below the knee joint. He climbed 
a little way up the tree, which was of easy ascent ; always 
exclaiming in a pitiable tone of voice, " do not kill me.'' 
Several of the people belonging to the collie, on hearing 
the shot fired, came running ; and amongst others the 
guide appointed us by Keminoom, who insisted that I 
should instantly shoot the thief dead ; otherwise he said I 
did not fulfil the orders of his master, who had directed 
me to shoot every person that stole from me. I had great 
difficulty in preventing him from killing him, and Mas 
happy to recover the great coat, and leave the thief bleed- 
ing amongst the branches of the tree. 
