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The dance thus begun lasted for fully two hours。 Each tribe took a turn before us； only to give way to the next。 We had leisure to notice minutiae； such as the ingenious tail one of the 〃lions〃 had constructed from a sweater。 As time went on； the men worked themselves to a frenzy。 From the serried ranks every once in a while one would break forth with a shriek to rush headlong into the fire； to beat the earth about him with his club； to rush over to shake one of us violently by the hand； or even to seize one of our feet between his two palms。 Then with equal abruptness back he darted to regain his place among the dancers。 Wilder and wilder became the movements； higher rose the voices。 The mock lion hunt grew more realistic； and the slaughter on both sides something tremendous。 Lower and lower crouched the Monumwezi； drawing apart with their deep 〃goom〃； drawing suddenly to a common centre with the sharp 〃zoop！〃 Only the Kikuyus held their lofty bearing as they rolled forth their chant； but the mounting excitement showed in their tense muscles and the rolling of their eyes。 The sweat glistened on naked black and bronze bodies。 Among the Monumwezi to my astonishment I saw Memba Sasa； stripped like the rest； and dancing with all abandon。 The firelight leaped high among the logs that eager hands cast on it； and the shadows it threw from the swirling； leaping figures wavered out into a great； calm darkness。
The night guard understood a little of the native languages； so he stood behind our chairs and told us in Swahili the meaning of some of the repeated phrases。
〃This has been a glorious day； few safaris have had so glorious a day。〃
〃The masters looked upon the fierce lions and did not run away。〃
〃Brave men without other weapons will nevertheless kill with a knife。〃
〃The masters' mothers must be brave women； the masters are so brave。〃
〃The white woman went hunting； and so were many lions killed。〃
The last one pleased Billy。 She felt that at last she was appreciated。
We sat there spellbound by the weird savagery of the spectacle…the great licking fire； the dancing； barbaric figures； the rise and fall of the rhythm； the dust and shuffle； the ebb and flow of the dance； the dim； half…guessed groups swaying in the darkness…and overhead the calm tropic night。
At last； fairly exhausted； they stopped。 Some one gave a signal。 The men all gathered in one group； uttered a final yell； very like a cheer； and dispersed。
We called up the heroes of the day…Fundi and his companion…and made a little speech； and bestowed appropriate reward。 Then we turned in。
XVI。 FUNDI
Fundi； as I have suggested； was built very much on the lines of the marabout stork。 He was about twenty years old； carried himself very erect； and looked one straight in the eye。 His total assets when he came to us were a pair of raggedy white breeches； very baggy； and an old mesh undershirt； ditto ditto。 To this we added a jersey； a red blanket； and a water bottle。 At the first opportunity he constructed himself a pair of rawhide sandals。
Throughout the first part of the trip he had applied himself to business and carried his load。 He never made trouble。 Then he and his companion saw five lions； and the chance Fundi had evidently long been awaiting came to his hand。 He ran himself almost into coma； exhibited himself game； and so fell under our especial and distinguished notice。 After participating whole…heartedly in the lion dance he and his companion were singled out for Our Distinguished Favour； to the extent of five rupees per。 Thus far Fundi's history reads just like the history of any ordinary Captain of Industry。
Next morning； after the interesting ceremony of rewarding the worthy； we moved on to a new camp。 When the line…up was called for； lo！ there stood Fundi； without a load； but holding firmly my double…barrelled rifle。 Evidently he had seized the chance of favour…and the rifle…and intended to be no longer a porter but a second gunbearer。
This looked interesting； so we said nothing。 Fundi marched the day through very proudly。 At evening he deposited the rifle in the proper place； and set to work with a will at raising the big tent。
The day following he tried it again。 It worked。 The third day he marched deliberately up past the syce to take his place near me。 And the fourth day； as we were going hunting； Fundi calmly fell in with the rest。 Nothing had been said； but Fundi had definitely grasped his chance to rise from the ranks。 In this he differed from his companion in glory。 That worthy citizen pocketed his five rupees and was never heard from again； I do not even remember his name nor how he looked。
I killed a buck of some sort； and Memba Sasa； as usual； stepped forward to attend to the trophy。 But I stopped him。
〃Fundi；〃 said I； 〃if you are a gunbearer； prepare this beast。〃
He stepped up confidently and set to work。 I watched him closely。 He did it very well； without awkwardness； though he made one or two minor mistakes in method。
〃Have you done this before？〃 I inquired。
〃No； bwana。〃
〃How did you learn to do it？〃
〃I have watched the gunbearers when I was a porter bringing in meat。〃*
*Except in the greatest emergencies a gunbearer would never think of carrying any sort of a burden。
This was pleasing； but it would never do； at this stage of the game； to let him think so； neither on his own account nor that of the real gunbearers。
〃You will bring in meat today also；〃 said I； for I was indeed a little shorthanded； 〃and you will learn how to make the top incision straighter。〃
When we had reached camp I handed him the Springfield。
〃Clean this；〃 I told him。
He departed with it； returning it after a time for my inspection。 It looked all right。 I catechized him on the method he had employed…for high velocities require very especial treatment…and found him letter perfect。
〃You learned this also by watching？〃
〃Yes； bwana； I watched the gunbearers by the fire； evenings。〃
Evidently Fundi had been preparing for his chance。
Next day； as he walked alongside； I noticed that he had not removed the leather cap； or sight protector； that covers the end of the rifle and is fastened on by a leather thong。 Immediately I called a halt。
〃Fundi；〃 said I； 〃do you know that the cover should be in your pocket？ Suppose a rhinoceros jumps up very near at hand： how can you get time to unlace the thong and hand me the rifle？〃
He thrust the rifle at me suddenly。 In some magical fashion the sight cover had disappeared！
〃I have thought of this；〃 said he； 〃and I have tied the thong； so； in order that it come away with one pull； and I snatch it off； so； with my left hand while I am giving you the gun with my right hand。 It seemed good to keep the cover on； for there are many branches； and the sight is very easy to injure。〃
Of course this was good sense； and most ingenious； Fundi bade fair to be quite a boy； but the native African is very easily spoiled。 Therefore； although my inclination was strongly to praise him； I did nothing of the sort。
〃A gunbearer carries the gun away from the branches；〃 was my only comment。
Shortly after occurred an incident by way of deeper test。 We were all ri