Part 25 (1/2)
Make a noise like a herd of cattle, don't they! That's because they're bold They don't care who hears them! The day is ours It used to be theirs, but the white ht is still theirs They're reveling in it! They're boasting of it! Every single night they coh like this just after sunset They'll co the saht No trouble in this hotel about getting guests down-stairs for early breakfast!”
”I'll get my rifle and settle the hash of one or two of theood his words But the proprietor seized him by the arm
”Don't be foolish!+ It has been tried too often! I never allowed such foolishness at my place A party up-street fired from the s
Couldn't see very well in the dark, but wounded two or three lions
What happened, eh? Why the whole pack of lions laid siege to the house! They broke into the stable and killed three horses, a donkey, and all the cows and sheep There weren't any shutters on the house s--nothing but glass It wasn't long before a young lion broke a , and in no tirown ones into the house after him They injured one man so severely that he died next day
They only shot two of the lions that got inside The other two got safely away, and since that tih not to interfere with theht! They'll do no hare thes, or any other animal they find loose; and heaven help the man they meet! But the place to be after six PM in Nairobi is indoors And it's the place to stay until after sunrise! Hear thenificent? Listen!”
The noise that twenty or thirty lions canall at once, is unbelievable They throw their heads up and glory in strength of lungs until thunders take second place and the listener knohy not the bravest, not the ed to iination
We were su to new heights of gallantry
”Gasshara with a scarred fist With a poultice on his eye he looked like a swashbuckler home from the wars; and as he had not troubled to shave hihtened
”What sort of co spoon and rapped on the board with it ”Blood of an onion! Rise, every one!”
Everybody rose, although there were men in the room in no mind to be told their duty by a Greek Lady Saffren Waldon walked to a place near the head of the table with a chilling bow As usual when night and the yellow lah
But she lacked the royal gift of seear herd
She could make men notice her--serve her, up to a certain point--and feel that she was the center of interest wherever she uard, she lacked the power to put mixed company at ease
Only the ex-missionary at the head of the table seemed to consider himself socially qualified to entertain her She was at no pains to conceal contempt for him
”You honor my poor hotel!” he assured her
”It is certainly a very poor hotel,” she answered
”Do you expect to reht have you to ask o away from behind my chair My own maid ait on me!”
Whether purposely or not, she cast such a chill upon the coes Coutlass subsided within hi animal, did not talk Almost the only conversation was between the owner and the native servants, aited at table aboued back Each reprimand increased their inefficiency and insolence Natives detest a fussy, noisy white , and no conversation worthy of the naloom that drove every one from table as soon as possible
Even the proprietor, with unsatiable curiosity exuding fro issues, departed to a sanctum of his own up somewhere under the roof The boys cleared the tables The smell of food spread itself and settled slowly A half-breed butler served countless orders of drinks on trays, and sent them upstairs to bedroo bare room
”Shall ait for her?” I asked ”Haven't we had enough of her?”
Fred laughed ”She can scarcely cut the throats of all three of us!”
”I said we'd never hear the last of it!” said Will, with a scowl at me