was at coming upon this stranger, whose people were
probably near at hand, I could not help admiring him as he stood there a
thorough child of nature, his body seeming to quiver with excitement for
the moment and then becoming perfectly rigid.

My eye glanced from the boy to the deer and back again, when a slight
movement to my right caught my attention and I stood paralysed, for in a
crouching attitude I could see a second black figure coming up, war-club
in hand, evidently inimically disposed towards the young hunter.

"And he may belong to a friendly set of people," I thought. "It is
Jimmy!"

"No: it was not Jimmy, but one of the bearers--Ti-hi," I thought.

"No: it was a stranger!"

Just then the boy drew himself back a little more, and as I saw the
stooping figure, that of a big burly savage, stealthily creeping on, I
realised his intention, which was to wait till the boy had hurled his
spear and then leap upon him and beat him to the ground.

I made no plans, for all was the work of moments. I saw the spear leave
the boy's hand like a line of light in the sunshine; then he turned,
alarmed by some sound behind him, saw the savage in the act of leaping
upon him, uttered a shrill cry of fear, and ran somewhat in my
direction, and at the same moment my gun made a jump up at my shoulder
and went off.

As the smoke rose I stood aghast, seeing the boy on my left crouching
down with a small waddy in his hand and the great black savage prone on
his face just to my right.

"I've killed him!" I exclaimed, a chill of horror running through me;
but as I thought this I brought my piece to the ready again, for the
savage leaped to his feet and turned and ran into the bush at a
tremendous pace.

From habit I threw open the breech of my gun without taking my eyes from
the boy, and, thrusting my hand into my pouch, I was about to place a
fresh ball cartridge in its place when I found that I had drawn the
right trigger and discharged the barrel loaded with small shot, a
sufficient explanation of the man being able to get up and run away.

I remained standing motionless as soon as I had reloaded, the boy
watching me intently the while and looking as if he was either ready to
attack or flee according to circumstances. Friendly advance there was
none, for he showed his white teeth slightly and his eyes glittered as
they were fixed upon mine.

Suddenly I caught sight of the deer lying transfixed by the boy's spear,
an