The quiet dawn began to throw her ever-widening mantle over plain
and forest and river -- mighty Kenia, wrapped in the silence
of eternal snows, looked out across the earth -- till presently
a beam from the unrisen sun lit upon his heaven-kissing crest
and purpled it with blood; the sky above grew blue, and tender
as a mother's smile; a bird began to pipe his morning song, and
a little breeze passing through the bush shook down the dewdrops
in millions to refresh the waking world. Everywhere was peace
and the happiness of arising strength, everywhere save in the
heart of cruel man!
Suddenly, just as I was nerving myself for the signal, having
already selected my man on whom I meant to open fire -- a great
fellow sprawling on the ground within three feet of little Flossie
-- Alphonse's teeth began to chatter again like the hoofs of
a galloping giraffe, making a great noise in the silence. The
rag had dropped out in the agitation of his mind. Instantly
a Masai within three paces of us woke, and, sitting up, gazed
about him, looking for the cause of the sound. Moved beyond
myself, I brought the butt-end of my rifle down on to the pit
of the Frenchman's stomach. This stopped his chattering; but,
as he doubled up, he managed to let off his gun in such a manner
that the bullet passed within an inch of my head.
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