Part 25 (1/2)
”Say, was last night all a dream?” asked Burt, soberly, as he stared at his chum ”Or did we really put it over--”
”You bet we did!” cried Critch with a grin of recollection ”No dream about that, old man We've only been here two days, but we've done a heap of things Noe got to finish the lion Then we can see about getting off”
”I'o,” stated Burt ”However, we ht send out Mbopo to trail hiet some breakfast fixed up”
”I' the hut, the two boys found themies They met Mbopo, and Burt took hio in detail, notthe dwarf rather confused There could be no such doubt about the struggle itself, however, and Mbopo nodded understandingly
They then left the ivory zareba while Mbopo made a cast around the place for the lion's trail Burt accompanied hi to his side, Burt saw the beaten spot in the tall grass where the lion hted fro been wounded There was a speck or two of dried blood in evidence, and Mbopo found more blood farther on, as well as a clearly defined trail The excited pig it up at once, but Burt held him back By dint of much patience he mies called ”Mwanzi,” or ”Red-head,” must accompany them, as well as some warriors Burt had had one experience with a wounded lion and he intended to take no chances this tie where Mbopo shouted forth his news, and Burt was instantly the center of an excited h them, however, and found Critch with breakfast ready Over the meal they discussed the matter of the lion, and decided to start out at once
”Mebbe they'll go without waitin' for us,” suggested Burt, glancing at the chattering crowd of warriors around the young chief Critch shook his head
”Not ot the nerve They'll do whatever we tell 'eame, take it from me”
As soon as they had finished, the boys joined Mbopo Their first object was a search for weapons Critch suggested taking two of the spears, whose blades were over a foot long and keen as a razor, but Burt objected
”We don't kno to use the about trade-guns?”
”Mebbe he did,” assented Critch, ”but I haven't seen any sign of guns around here Let's ask Mbopo”
They tried tochief understand, but without success
Thereupon the boys tookthe largest huts This was presently rewarded by the finding of an old Snider, wrapped in tarpaulin There were three cartridges in the azine, but no more These were displayed to Mbopo, but he stated that there were no e
”Well, she see down the barrel of the rifle ”Get soht to do”
”Don't catch ustedly ”She's liable to bust I'll bet she's twenty years old”
”Better'n a spear at that,” chuckled Burt, oiling the rifle until it worked perfectly ”We ain't so badly off, Critch There, I guess that'll do Ready?”
Critch armed himself with one of the spears, and at the head of twenty picked warriors they left the village Mbopo led the way to the spoor already found, and Critch at once ordered the pigmy warriors to follow it up
”Let 'erinned ”They ain't scared now I'un--unless the gun finishes you”
”You're sore because you didn't find the gun yourself,” retorted Burt
”Co the spoor of the lion, spreading out on either side and calling to one another continually The boys followedrank grass into the forest, and was easy for the boys to read
The lion hadthe zareba This had taken hi the first thicket he had crawled along and left a plain blood-marked trail for the hunters to follow A hundred yards farther on they heard a shrill yell fro fromies clustered about a clump of thorn-bushes These were alo in there,” he stated, pointing to the bushes with a grin
”Mwanzi kill? Vera good!”