FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
265 
to take from the boxes in which they had been placed. To deceive 
me, the artful old villain had put a pillow into a sack, which he had 
laid along on his own mat. On the discovery, I immediately made 
an alarm, and sent to the chief for twelve horsemen to go in pur- 
suit of him. 
] 1th.— About three o’clock in the afternoon, as I was standing in 
my shed, 1 perceived a party of horsemen coming towards me in full 
gallop. On coming within a few yards of me, they suddenly checked 
their horses, and flourishing their spears over their heads, exclaimed, 
<c Nasarah, acqui de moogoo!” (Christian, we have the rogue !) They 
informed me that a little before day-break in the morning they 
heard the report of a gun, and going towards the place whence the 
sound seemed to proceed, saw Pascoe perched on the top of a high 
tree, and the stolen goods lying at the root of it. They threatened to 
shoot him with their poisoned arrows unless he immediately came 
down. This had the desired effect. He hastily descended, and de- 
livered himself into their hands. One of the soldiers took the 
trembling scoundrel behind him on his horse, when the whole 
party immediately clapped spurs to their horses, and made all the 
haste they could to the village. I asked Pascoe what could have 
induced him to leave me in so disgraceful a manner. He replied 
that his countrymen (the Gooburites) were at war with the F el- 
latas, who would cut off his head on arriving at Soccatoo. The 
chief coming up at the instant, cried out, “ A blessing, a blessing; 
you have taken the thief, let me take off’ his head !” This was 
Pascoe’s third offence; and I ordered him to be heavily ironed and 
pinioned in the town dungeon. 
12th. — Pascoe having expressed a wish to see me, I sent for 
him. He begged most piteously to be forgiven, and holding up 
his naked arms, which were swollen to thrice their natural size, 
implored me at least not to have him pinioned again. This I freely 
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