ad been found out.

We stated the matter in a few words.

"Gunbearers, this man Fundi, when the rhinoceros charged, fired Winchi.
Was this the work of a gunbearer?"

The three seasoned men looked at each other with shocked astonishment
that such depravity could exist.

"And being frightened, he gave back Winchi with the exploded cartridge
in her. Was that the work of a gunbearer?"

"No, bwana," said Fundi humbly.

"You, the gunbearers, have been called because we wish to know what
should be done with this man Fundi."

It should be here explained that it is not customary to kiboko, or flog,
men of the gunbearer class. They respect themselves and their calling,
and would never stand that sort of punishment. When one blunders, a
sarcastic scolding is generally sufficient; a more serious fault may
be punished on the spot by the white man's fist; or a really bad
dereliction may cause the man's instant degradation from the post. With
this in mind we had called the council of gunbearers. Memba Sasa spoke.

"Bwana," said he, "this man is not a true gunbearer. He is no longer
a true porter. He carries a gun in the field, like a gunbearer; and he
knows much of the duty of gunbearer. Also he does not run away nor climb
trees. But he carries in the meat; and he is not a real gunbearer. He is
half porter and half gunbearer."

"What punishment shall he have?"

"Kiboko," said they.

"Thank you. Bass!"

They went, leaving Fundi. We surveyed him, quietly.

"You a gunbearer!" said we at last. "Memba Sasa says you are half
gunbearer. He was wrong. You are all porter; and you know no more than
they do. It is in our mind to put you back to carrying a load. If you do
not wish to taste the kiboko, you can take a load to-morrow."

"The kiboko, bwana," pleaded Fundi, very abashed and humble.

"Furthermore," we added crushingly, "you did not even hit the
rhinoceros!"

So with all ceremony he got the kiboko. The incident did him a lot of
good, and toned down his exuberance somewhat. Nevertheless he still
required a good deal of training, just as does a promising bird dog in
its first season. Generally his faults were of over-eagerness. Indeed,
once he got me thoroughly angry in face of another rhinoceros by dancing
just out of reach with the heavy rifle, instead of sticking close to me
where I could get at him. I temporarily forgot the rhino, and advanced
on Fundi with the full intention of knocking his fool head off.
Whereup