Adventure Magazine Cover — page 53: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Crocodile’s Bride been set upon and beaten by them for his bravery. The consequence was that when the other two came into the sango they were very much surprized when their elders set upon them and beat them soundly. It was not until sundown, when they were eating their evening meal, that the two knew exactly why they had been beaten, for Mkafula wagged his head at them and told them they had better leave him alone next time he chased lions away for them. Hard looks were cast his way. But their aching limbs forbade them from laying hands on him. A desultory game of tana toz was begun after the meal was over, but all of them soon tired of it, and got their bayis and mats and soon were all asleep. ) hour or so before sunrise, the ~kwen- kwes woke up one by one. There was a lot of whispering going on. It rose and fellasanargument cameup. There was a sudden hush as a voice whispered fiercely— ‘“Lungle, mena fekela.”’ (‘All right, I will get it.’’) There was the noise of some one getting to his feet, of stumblings and muttered pro- tests in the dark. Fierce threats of bodily injury as the early riser passed in amongst his fellows. A form loomed in the low open- ing of the door for an instant, and was gone. Fierce and hurried whisperings went on in the darkened hut— “Mena piri.”’ (“TI am first.’’) “Hini?”’ (“Howe”) “Mena shaya wena fana.” you, young warrior.”) | “Ewe, Mashona.” (‘‘Yes, Mashona.’’) This last derisively. The form darkened the doorway again. There were excited scramblings in the dark hut; a fierce whisper for zbzza * brought a suppressed laughter and giggles all round. There was the blub-blub-blub sound of liquid being poured out. Pleading whispers of ‘‘Futs futr” (“More again, more again.’’) A firm young voice said— EARLY next morning, about an (“TI will beat “iyi? (““No.’’) Sounds of noisy drinking and a smacking of lips. “Nagal Naga!” (“Very nice! Very nice!’’) “‘Ewe, Mashona,” (““Yes, Mashona,’’) they all chorused, for they were drinking amasz *Pot or vessel in Kaffir. Horse in Mashona. 45 (sour milk or curds) which one of them had secreted till this hour. This amasi is very strengthening and sus- taining, and is palatable when one gets over the first aversion. The nkwenkwes love it as well as their elders, and thrive on it. It is an acquired taste, however. The secret liquid feast was over. That was evident by the drumming of hands on tight-drawn stomachs. Happily they raised their voices in song: ‘Mena shile mena pile. Ewe, Mashona. Mena shale mena pile. Ewe, Mashona. (“‘I have eaten, I am healthy. Yes, Mashona. I have eaten, I am healthy. Yes, Mashona.’’) At the last line they pounded their heels hard on the floor of the hut in great enthu- siasm. An angry voice in the doorway roared— “Mena shaya; wena to la.” thrash you all; shut up.’’) ceased. The blue-gray dawn stole into the small door. Loud and prodigious yawns were heard. There were sounds of fingers that crackled as they were “shocked.” The boys trooped out of the hut on their various duties—some to milk and others to rake and make up fires in the different huts. The glorious sun topped over the hills, and the wind blew away the soft mist. The few cattle in the sz bayi were let out. Dar- ing nkwenkwes got on the back of goats and rode them out of the sango. The kraal came to life in a very lackadai- sical way. Several amadoda came out of one hut, and, walking on their heels to save their feet from the cold ground, went into another hut to smoke an early pipe and sleep till noontide. A fat old wmfazi (woman) waddled out of a hut and went over to the well-kept one containing the girls, with a dishful of some- thing to eat. Mkafula and another boy sauntered past it, glanced into the doorway, but saw nothing as the light was not yet strong enough. The other boy led the way toward the river, following a different path from the one of the day before. They arrived at the river-bank by a natural bay. Mkafula would have walked into water in the bay. (“TIT will The song GOMIIGooOo 6S) (© iin