He seemed pleased at the proposal, and at once repeated it
to Runi, who considered for a little and then consented.
By and by he said, touching his bow: "You cannot fight with our
weapons; what will you do if we meet an enemy?"
I smiled and returned that I would not run away. All I wished to
show him was that his enemies were my enemies, that I was ready
to fight for my friend.
He was pleased at my words, and said no more and gave me no
weapons. Next morning, however, when we set out before daylight,
I made the discovery that he was carrying my revolver fastened to
his waist. He had concealed it carefully under the one simple
garment he wore, but it bulged slightly, and so the secret was
betrayed. I had never believed that he had lost it, and I was
convinced that he took it now with the object of putting it into
my hands at the last moment in case of meeting with an enemy.
From the village we travelled in a north-westerly direction, and
before noon camped in a grove of dwarf trees, where we remained
until the sun was low, then continued our walk through a rather
barren country. At night we camped again beside a small stream,
only a few inches deep, and after a meal of smoked meat and
parched maize prepared to sleep till dawn on the next day.
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