In Afric’s Forest and Jungle 
were all his “boys,” especially in time of war 
when delicacies were scarce. He knew that 
while his life was safe in the hands of his 
“boys,” the lives of his favorite birds were not. 
So he always slept near the door of his low tent 
with the basket of chickens hanging just within. 
Not finding any nobler game, a leopard crept up 
and had his neck stretched out over the ponder¬ 
ous form of the Bashorun, trying to get a mouth¬ 
ful of chickens, when he touched the sleeper and 
waked him. A loud yell from the Bashorun 
brought some soldiers to his assistance and saved 
the chickens and their owner. The disappointed 
beast retired to the wall and there howled or 
roared back angry defiance at his pursuers. Not 
until he had been struck by a ball would he take 
refuge in the bushes. 
The Bashorun hurried us off next morning as 
soon as it was light enough to travel. A trusted 
officer, whom we knew, had been instructed to 
give special attention to the safety of my party; 
for the people of the caravan acted upon the 
principle “every man for himself,” and there 
were some young people in my party who could 
not keep up through the whole day with the 
excited, hurrying throng. 
A stubborn battle had been fought a few days 
202 
