tuft of grass, saw it all, and
winked in the dark.

When the meat was in, Dogs said, "It is all right now. Just stay
outside until the other fellows arrive."

Hyena retired, and when he was outside of the gate searched for his
tripe, and lay down quietly to enjoy it, but as he was about to bite it,
Rabbit screamed, "Ah, you thief, Hyena. You thief, I see you. Stop
thief, Mugassa is coming."

These cries so alarmed Hyena that he dropped his tripe, and fled away as
fast as his legs could carry him, and the others, Buffalo, Elephant,
Lion, and Leopard, tired out with waiting, and hearing these alarming
cries, also ran away, leaving Rabbit and his dog friends in quiet
possession. They carried the tripe into the village, and closed the
gate and barred it, after which they laughed loud and long, Rabbit
rolling on the ground over and over with the fun of it all.

My friends, Rabbit was the smallest of all, but by his wisdom he was
more than a match for two Elephants, Buffalo, Leopard, Lion, Hyena, and
all. And even his friends, the Dogs, had to confess that Rabbit's wit
could not be matched. That is my tale.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE ADVENTURES OF SARUTI.

"I have a poor memory for legends," said Bujomba, one night, while we
were in camp at Benga: "but I remember what a young Mtongole (colonel)
named Saruti related to Mtesa after his return from an expedition to the
frontier of Unyoro. What a head that man had, and such eyes! Mtesa was
ever fond of a good story, and loved to question those whom he sent to
distant countries, until you might say that there was nothing left in a
man worth hearing after he had done with him. But Saruti did not need
any questioning. He talked on and on without stopping, until Mtesa
could not sit up longer for sheer weariness. These are among the things
he said that he had witnessed on his journey. You must not ask me if I
believe all that he said. All I can say is that they might have
happened, or been seen by many men, but I never could quite understand
how it was that Saruti alone was so lucky as to see all the things he
talked about. Anyhow, he was very amusing, and Mtesa laughed heartily
many times as he listened to him."

Kabaka, I think my charms which my father suspended round my neck must
be very powerful. I am always in luck. I hear good stones on my
journey, I see strange things which no one else seems to have come
across. Now on this last journey, by the time