Hewas again the good fellow I had known, very
apologetic andgrateful. Hes the kind of grafter Iwould like to interview with a
sjambok. He sent his love to me and told me not to worry.
He wanted to see where the water came fromand to
have a word with the man who controlled it. Indeed,all night they had kept up a most
distressing racket, wailing andbeating little drums. It is difficult to explain just
the effect it had on me.
The Devil hadtaken an active hand in things and
caused a hideous miscarriage ofjustice.
As soon as I came in sight of the village I saw
that something hadplayed the deuce with it.
I had decided to take a holiday and go shooting. By
and by Andrew lost his temper, andforced his way in.
But the tradition is more likely to be
negative.
Good talk is not for reproduction in cold
print.
All the same I didnt quiteconvince myself. I had
heard of native chiefs keeping tameleopards.
Drink, lunacy and practical joking were barred
asexplanations.
One glance showed me that there was not going to be
any explanationwith the priest.
I tell youI was scared out of my senses and had to
run for my life.
I dipped my hand in it and it was as cold as
ice.
Butfor my purpose the place looked promising. One
glance showed me that there was not going to be any explanationwith the
priest.
Perhaps the fact that Smit had a baddish reputation
was part of theattraction.
TheWar had flattened out grooves and set every man
adventuring.
Good talk is not for reproduction in cold
print.
Butfor my purpose the place looked
promising.
I remembered thatI had seen the same thing before
in young Boers, and I thought Iknew the reason. I was turning to go away, when I
looked at the door on the farside. But when we raised the waterquestion we struck a
snag.
Theywere a decent peaceable folk, very shy and
scared and hesitating,but with no guile in them. The schermcontinued in a half-moon
on each side till it met the sheer wall ofthe cliffs. Perhaps the fact that Smit had
a baddish reputation was part of theattraction.
Now the Kaffir is the most superstitious of
Godscreatures.
After all demoniacal possession must be equivalent
in law toinsanity. I fancy a lot of my blackguard ancestors got scuppered
atmoonlight fords.