shoulders. It was
always in mischief. Seated the same night, after the adventure with the
hippopotamus, round the camp fire, near the banks of the Quissanga
river, Wyzinski was laughing at the morning's adventure.

"I hadn't a notion you could run so fast, Hughes," he continued.

"Hadn't you," replied the soldier, not half liking the missionary's
quiet way of chaffing.

"No, indeed I hadn't," answered the other. "I see now why they gave you
the Light Company in the gallant 150th."

Luji's wide mouth was opened to the fullest possible extent.

"Master no like Quissango hippopotamus? Luji no like Zoutpansburgh
lion!"

"I'll tell you what, Wyzinski," answered Hughes, "I may live to see you
run just as fast yet."

A cry from Masheesh, at this moment, drew attention for the time from
the subject. The baboon darted out of the small tent holding something
he had stolen. Luji, with a loud shout, dashed after him. Away went
the two round and round, the monkey chattering and screaming, but still
firmly grasping the object, which proved to be the captain's
powder-flask.

"You should try your hand, Hughes," drily remarked the missionary.
"Your pace beat that this morning."

Hardly were the words spoken when, with a scream of delight, the baboon
vaulted right over the stooping missionary, using his shoulders for the
spring, and alighting close to the fire, dropped the flask just into the
centre of the blaze, and then bounding off a few paces, stood jabbering
and grimacing.

The tent was only a few yards away.

"Run, Wyzinski," shouted the soldier, "all our powder is in the tent."
The whole thing was done in a second, and the soldier and missionary
scudding down the slope at a tremendous pace the next. Losing his
footing, away went Wyzinski, rolling among the stones and bushes, just
as the explosion took place.

Luckily, there was little powder in the flask, but the burning embers
were blown right and left, and the tent struck by them. The baboon was
dreadfully singed, and awfully frightened, and not a beauty before,
became literally hideous; but no further harm was done.

"You had better exchange your robes against a subaltern's epaulettes in
the Light Company of the 150th Regiment," laughed Hughes.

"I'll think of it," replied the missionary; "but, Hughes, will you give
me a certificate?"

"Most certainly. I can't hold a candle to you at running away,
Wyzinski," for the soldier thought he had the best