FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   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   151   152   >>   >|  
had left his companions in the camp, but had now to get out of the difficulty in the best way he could. He therefore reminded Panda that they were very young, and that English manners were not like Zulu manners, but he hoped the next time they visited the country, should the king give them the honour of an invitation, that they would behave themselves better. Both Hendricks and Crawford had already swallowed more of the beer than they liked. Although its intoxicating qualities were very weak, the latter declared he felt its effects in his head, and that should he take much more, he could not answer for himself. At last Hendricks thought of an expedient which might possibly prove successful in enabling his companions to escape from a further infliction of the king's hospitable intentions. "The Lion of Africa" (such was one of the titles the obese old savage delighted to be addressed by) "was inquiring about affairs in Natal," he observed. "Not long ago, there lived in England,--which, as your Majesty is aware of, is a long way off,--a man named Jones. He was a worthy man, and had he been born in Zululand, he might have become a great warrior. But Jones was a man of peace. He had a family of ten children, six boys and four girls, very like him in all respects. Jones had a brother, and Jones's brother had twelve children, they were equally divided between boys and girls. As there was every prospect of there being a good many more little Jones's born, they agreed that the country might not be large enough to hold them, and they therefore determined to come out to Natal. Jones's brother came in a ship called the _Swan_, while Jones himself embarked in one named the _Duck_. They sailed almost at the same time. When the sea was smooth, the little Jones's were tolerably well, but when it grew rough, they became very sick, and wished that they had not come." Hendricks, while he was speaking, kept his eye on the king, who, before he had got thus far, began to nod. He continued, therefore, in a low voice, giving the history of the Jones's, which, as it would be uninteresting to most readers, was especially so to the king, who, therefore, before the hunter had got much farther, fell fast asleep. "Now my lads," said Hendricks, turning to his young companions, "you may take the opportunity of slipping off. Make a bow to the king as you leave the hut, more to please his attendants than His Majesty, who will certainl
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   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   151   152   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Hendricks
 

companions

 

brother

 

Majesty

 

manners

 
children
 
country
 

embarked

 
twelve
 

divided


sailed

 

equally

 
determined
 

agreed

 
called
 

prospect

 
turning
 
asleep
 

hunter

 

farther


opportunity

 

attendants

 

certainl

 

slipping

 

readers

 

wished

 

speaking

 

tolerably

 

giving

 

history


uninteresting

 
respects
 

continued

 

smooth

 

qualities

 
declared
 

intoxicating

 
Although
 

swallowed

 
effects

thought
 

expedient

 
possibly
 
answer
 

Crawford

 

reminded

 
English
 

difficulty

 
behave
 

invitation