from Africa with
orders never to return when Bwana found that his big bag of fourteen
lions had been made by the diligent use of poisoned bait.

The result was that all good sportsmen and all the natives loved and
respected him. His word was law where there had never been law before.
There was scarce a head man from coast to coast who would not heed the
big Bwana's commands in preference to those of the hunters who employed
them, and so it was easy to turn back any undesirable stranger--Bwana
had simply to threaten to order his boys to desert him.

But there was evidently one who had slipped into the country
unheralded. Bwana could not imagine who the approaching horseman might
be. After the manner of frontier hospitality the globe round he met
the newcomer at the gate, welcoming him even before he had dismounted.
He saw a tall, well knit man of thirty or over, blonde of hair and
smooth shaven. There was a tantalizing familiarity about him that
convinced Bwana that he should be able to call the visitor by name, yet
he was unable to do so. The newcomer was evidently of Scandinavian
origin--both his appearance and accent denoted that. His manner was
rough but open. He made a good impression upon the Englishman, who was
wont to accept strangers in this wild and savage country at their own
valuation, asking no questions and assuming the best of them until they
proved themselves undeserving of his friendship and hospitality.

"It is rather unusual that a white man comes unheralded," he said, as
they walked together toward the field into which he had suggested that
the traveler might turn his pony. "My friends, the natives, keep us
rather well-posted."

"It is probably due to the fact that I came from the south," explained
the stranger, "that you did not hear of my coming. I have seen no
village for several marches."

"No, there are none to the south of us for many miles," replied Bwana.
"Since Kovudoo deserted his country I rather doubt that one could find
a native in that direction under two or three hundred miles."

Bwana was wondering how a lone white man could have made his way
through the savage, unhospitable miles that lay toward the south. As
though guessing what must be passing through the other's mind, the
stranger vouchsafed an explanation.

"I came down from the north to do a little trading and hunting," he
said, "and got way off the beaten track. My head man, who was the only
member of the safa