ever funks, but reloads coolly under the
most nerve-trying conditions. He has his limitations, of course,
but I have found him brave and faithful, and I pass him along to you
with confidence.

"And by the way: he has been to Mount Elgon with me. I
was not looking for buried ivory, but he knows where the caves
are in which anything might be!

"Wishing you all good luck, Yours truly,
"F. Courtney"

For the moment we felt like men possessed of a new horse apiece. We
were for dashing out to look the acquisition over. But Will checked us.

"Recall what Courtney said about a dog?" he asked. "We can't all own
him!"

Fred sat down. "Ex-missionaries own dice," he announced. "That's how
they come to be ex! You'll find them in the little box on the shelf,
Will. We'll throw a main for Kazimoto!"

"I know a better gamble than that!'

"Name it, America."

"Bring the coon in and have him choose."

So I went out and felt tempted to speak cordially to the homeless ugly
black man--to give him a hint that he was welcome. But it is a fatal
mistake to make a "soft" impression on even the best natives at the
start.

"Karibu!"* I said gruffly when I had looked him over, using one of the
six dozen Swahili words I knew as yet. [*Karibu, enter, come in.]

He arose with the unlabored ease that I have since learned to look for
in all natives worth employing; and followed me indoors. Will and
Fred were seated in judicial attitudes, and I took a chair beside them.

"What is your name?" demanded Fred.

"Kazimoto."

"Um-m! That means 'Work-like-the-devil.' Let us hope you live up to
it. Your former master gives you a good character."

"Why not, bwana? My spirit is good."

"Do you want work?"

"Yes."

"How much money do you expect to get?"

"Sijui!"

"Don't say sijui!" I cut in, remembering Schillingschen's method.

"Six rupees a month and posho," he said promptly. Posho means rations,
or money in lieu of rations.

"Don't you rather fancy yourself?" suggested Fred with a perfectly
straight face.

"Say two dollars a month all told!" Will whispered to me behind his
hand.

"I am a good gun-bearer!" the native answered. "My spirit is good. I
am strong. There is nobody better than me as a gun-bearer!"

"We happen to want a headman," answered Fred. "Have you ever been
headman?"

"Would you like to be?"

"Yes."

"Are you able?"

"Surely."