r plume--and yellow mbembu--a stone fruit, in shape like a small
peach; but though I call it the forest peach from this likeness, its
flesh breaks off like a pear's, even when ripest, but its taste is a
mixture of the peach and the pear--to which our party rushed, like the
half-starved creatures they were.

Having refreshed themselves with handfuls of the delicious fruit, Kalulu
proposed that he and Selim should venture out in one direction, while
Moto and Abdullah should go in another, to look for game; meantime Simba
and Niani to look after the canoe. The proposition was agreeable to
all.

Kalulu and Selim chose a north-east direction, Moto and Abdullah
selected a south-east route.

The first couple, with whom we have most to deal, struck out boldly,
Kalulu armed with his spear, and bow, and arrows, Selim with his English
"Joe Manton," which had often before distinguished itself on many a
hunting-field. Thickets were passed by, as well as the thin forest,
without meeting with a single head of game; but suddenly the thin forest
gave way to a bit of park-land, that is, an open country sprinkled with
a few noble trees here and there, with its face slightly rolling, thus
forming an agreeable prospect compared to what a flat ground would have
furnished. In the distance, say at a hundred yards off from the thin
forest they were about leaving, the two boys saw a herd of noble zebra
engaged in play, in nibbling each other's necks, or, with ears drawn
back, were playfully kicking at each other. Selim flung his
rifle-barrel into the hollow of his left hand, and aimed at a perfectly
regal animal, kingly in his pride and beauty, regal in shape and size,
who, foremost of the herd, had seen the intruders, and who, with an
erect head and noble mien, was engaged in surveying them.

Crack went the rifle, and the magnificent beast rolled on his side,
while the herd, uttering their alarm and sorrow in shrill neighs,
scampered off to a safer distance to scrutinise the intruders, who with
merry laugh and light bounds hastened to secure their game.

The wounded zebra lay still, and Selim, thinking it dead, could not help
laying down his rifle, quite forgetful of the Moslem's duty of severing
its throat and letting out the blood, to survey the beautiful beast. It
was so beautiful he could not help going to it, and striding the back,
taking hold of the mane, and saying to Kalulu:

"Ah, what a fine horse he would make! how I wish t