When it comes to fighting
I will leave the matter to you, but when it is a case of watching or
spying, do you leave it to Hans. Look here, Mavovo," and he opened his
hand in which was a horn snuff-box such as Zulus sometimes carry in
their ears. "To whom does this belong?"
"It is mine," said Mavovo, "and you have stolen it."
"Yes," jeered Hans, "it is yours. Also I stole it from your ear as I
passed you in the dark. Don't you remember that you thought a gnat had
tickled you and hit up at your face?"
"It is true," growled Mavovo, "and you, snake of a Hottentot, are
great in your own low way. Yet next time anything tickles me, I shall
strike, not with my hand, but with a spear."
Then I turned them both out, remarking to Stephen that this was a good
example of the eternal fight between courage and cunning. After this,
as I was sure that Hassan and his friends were too busy to interfere
with us that night, we went to bed and slept the sleep of the just.
When I got up the next morning I found that Stephen Somers had already
risen and gone out, nor did he appear until I was half through my
breakfast.
Pages:
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150