uld have worked as
well as the timid fellow who voluntarily offered to cook for him.

After the suppers were cooked and eaten, and their limbs were somewhat
rested, and earth had drawn its sable mantle, chequered with the
diamonds of heaven, over its head, and the dark foliage of the baobab
began to be peopled with formless shapes and shadows, and the fires
burned bright, and cast their tongued flames with splutter, and hissing,
and crackling, the dispositions of each began to be exhibited. They
squatted around a blazing pile, listening to an exciting tale of
adventure, or a funny story, which makes men's sides almost explode with
laughter. What can be more enjoyable? Nothing. People, for the time,
forget everything but the interesting present. Not one in such a
position can be left to himself; for his little world is before him, and
he must be drawn into its vortex of pleasantry and enjoyment, and forget
what he selfishly thinks belongs to himself.

The desire of slumber came on by-and-bye, and each man crept into his
hut, and on his own little pile of straw or leaves, drowned in kindly,
healthy sleep, forgot not only himself, but his neighbours, his friends,
and his tribe.

At dawn, five of the likeliest fellows were sent by Kalulu to
reconnoitre the vicinity and the open, swampy ground near which they had
camped, and where they had obtained their water for cooking the night
before.

They had not been gone fifteen minutes before one of them returned, who,
with a warning finger, imposed silence, and whispered the words "Kumi
tembo"--ten elephants!

You might have seen then how quickly the looks of indifference were
changed into one of exciting interest, how eyes danced gladly, and
sparkled at the joyful news; how Kalulu's hunter-soul kindled into
raptures, and how Moto and Simba looked significantly at one another,
and how Selim even felt a throb and a warm glow stealing over him.

Moto advanced to Kalulu, and reminded him of the advice given by Soltali
to hunt one at a time, and said that while he and his warriors should
single out one, it would be better that those armed with guns, viz., he
and Simba, and Selim, should engage another, and so kill two. Kalulu at
once acceded to the proposal.

The hunters, as soon as they got outside of the boma or camp, deployed
in a long line, while Selim, Moto, and Simba stole quietly and quickly
away on their own venture, in a direction considerably to the left of
th