ur company. I would rather have my two
black-skinned friends as companions, for depend upon it they know more
about the matter than any one else."

"Massa," said Timbo, "I ever go out shooting wid you. I no take care of
you?"

"Yes, indeed you have," answered Stanley; "but I want you now to stay at
home and look after the camp. If there is any risk, it is better that
one should run it than both."

This answer satisfied Timbo, and Stanley having partaken of the supper
which Kate and Bella insisted on preparing for him, set off with Igubo
and the stranger. They carried the two best rifles, with a supply of
powder and bullets. I found that Jack and Timbo had been busily
employed in manufacturing a sort of infernal machine for the destruction
of wild beasts. They had selected a musket with a large bore, and they
proposed using this as a sort of spring-gun. Jack told me that while we
had been away, a huge hyena had been seen in the neighbourhood, and as
they are cunning animals and not easily overtaken, they thought it would
be the best way of getting rid of so dangerous a neighbour. There was
still sufficient light by the time they had finished preparing the gun
to plant it in the neighbourhood. The boys and I accompanied them out.
Timbo selected two trees, to which they lashed the gun in an almost
horizontal position, the muzzle only pointing slightly upwards. A piece
of wood about six inches long was fastened to the gun stock so as to
move easily backwards and forwards. A piece of string connected the
lower part of this with the trigger. To the upper end a long piece of
cord was fastened, which was carried through one of the empty ram-rod
tubes, and then tied to a lump of flesh, fastened round the muzzle of
the gun. As can thus easily be understood, an animal seizing the flesh
pulls the lever which draws the trigger, and at the same moment that it
has the meat in its mouth, the probabilities are that its brains will be
blown out. However, that it should not take the meat sideways, or come
behind it and thus escape, Timbo formed a fence round the spot, leaving
only a narrow opening just in front of the muzzle of the gun.

"Now," said Timbo, "here are five bits of meat to tempt de hyena to come
up to de trap. You go dere, you go dere, you go dere;" and we all, as
he pointed out, went in different directions round the spot to some
distance, and then dragged the tainted meat up towards the trap. "Now,
we g