Копи царя Соломона
An Elephant Hunt
ThewagonandtheoxenweleftintheimmediatechargeofGozaandTom,ourdriverandleader,bothtrustworthyboys,requestingaworthyScotchmissionarywholivedinthisdistantplacetokeepaneyeonthem. Then,accompaniedbyUmbopa,Khiva,Ventvögel,andhalfadozenbearerswhomwehiredonthespot,westartedoffonfootuponourwildquest. Irememberwewereallalittlesilentontheoccasionofthisdeparture,andIthinkthateachofuswaswonderingifweshouldeverseeourwagonagain;formypartIneverexpectedtodoso. Forawhilewetrampedoninsilence,tillUmbopa,whowasmarchinginfront,brokeintoaZuluchantabouthowsomebravemen,tiredoflifeandthetamenessofthings,startedoffintoavastwildernesstofindnewthingsordie,andhow,loandbehold! whentheyhadtravelledfarintothewildernesstheyfoundthatitwasnotawildernessatall,butabeautifulplacefullofyoungwivesandfatcattle,ofgametohuntandenemiestokill.
Thenwealllaughedandtookitforagoodomen. Umbopawasacheerfulsavage,inadignifiedsortofway,whenhewasnotsufferingfromoneofhisfitsofbrooding,andhehadawonderfulknackofkeepingupourspirits. Weallgrewveryfondofhim.
AndnowfortheoneadventuretowhichIamgoingtotreatmyself,forIdodearlyloveahuntingyarn.
Aboutafortnight’smarchfromInyatiwecameacrossapeculiarlybeautifulbitofwell-wateredwoodlandcountry.
