fence, they set to work upon some more
meat, with an enjoyment and gusto few can realise outside of those who
have gone through similar experiences. Jokes were freely made; Simba
uttered his dry, crisp remarks, which set them all laughing. Then, when
the supper was over, and Moto had taken out from some extraordinary
recess of his loin-cloth a leaf of tobacco, and some lime, and handing a
bit to Simba, who received it with joyful gratitude, and placed it in
his mouth, with a pleasure which lit his face up. Moto called out to
Niani for a story. Little Niani was taken aback by this, and blushed as
much as he could blush, for his face seemed to burn, and tingle, as he
felt the high honour conferred on him. He answered, he did not know how
to tell a story. But Moto having explained to him that he only wished
to know what had become of him after he left Katalambula's village,
Niani said:

"Oh, it is soon told. Tifum the Wicked, after we came to Katalambula's,
took me to his own hut, and made me wait on him, fetch water, and light
his pipe for him, and when Ferodia left Katalambula's that night, when
he was angry because Simba and Kalulu would not let him take Master
Selim with him, I was marched off by Tifum. On the road, Tifum beat me
several times, and once threatened to cut my head off, if I did not
hurry my steps. I was sorry, and I felt as if I did not care much what
he would do to me, since I was parted from Master Selim, who was always
so good to me. One of the Arab slaves was caught as he was trying to
run away, and Ferodia ordered him to be killed. He was thrown on the
ground by six men, and while one man drew his head back by the hair,
another with a knife that was not sharp, began to cut his head off. The
blood of that poor man spouting up in the faces of the cruel men, while
his body was shaking, and moving about as he tried to breathe, I shall
never forget; and if only for that savage work of Tifum, who stood by
laughing, I think Tifum the Wicked has been served right. Nothing else
happened on the road, except that every day some poor slave was badly
used, and beaten until he died. I think that more than twenty people
died on the road. We got at last to Ferodia's village, which is not
near so big as Katalambula's was, though he has plenty of cows, and
sheep, and goats. Tifum had four wives, all ugly and cruel, and when
Tifum told them to make use of me, those bad women treated me worse than
he ha