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bit cross with you as the cause of my having been sucked in by that dd
murdering old walrus。 You ought to know the inhabitants of this country
better than a simple stranger like me； and so I took your lead。 Now；
another thing： you nearly bust us both by your blasted foolishness in going
to sleep that day； but let that pass； because perhaps it would have been
worse if we had not been put on our guard； not but that it would take a d
d smart cannibal to eat Hiram Whitson。 But this is what I am coming to：
you； my boy； are a darned sight too fond of hearing your own tongue clack。
Now； take a warning from me； and don't let a word of what has happened
since we left camp for Pietermaritzburg pass your lips。 I did all the
shooting； and I'm not a bit ashamed of it； but； by the eternal God； if you
open your lips to a soul； I'll shoot you like a dog or a cannibal！ Remember
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that； sonny； and say it quietly over to yourself the first time you feel that
you want to blab。 Now； shake hands。〃
This was probably the longest speech that Whitson had ever made。
About two years after the events narrated； Whitson took his discharge
and returned to America。 He left behind him a sealed packet addressed to
his commanding officer； and which was not to be delivered for twelve
months after his departure。
Owing； however； to a strange combination of fortuitous circumstances；
this packet never reached its proper destination； its wrapper； bearing the
address； having been scorched off in a fire which took place in the house
where it was left。
NOTE
Many people have heard or read of the cannibals of Natal； who turned
large tracts of country into a shambles in the early part of this century；
after Tshaka's impis had swept off all the cattle； and then kept the
miserable people continually on the move so that they were unable to
cultivate。 One Umdava originated the practice of eating human flesh。
Gathering together the fragments of four scattered tribes； he trained them
to hunt human beings as others hunted game。 This gang was a greater
scourge to the country surrounding the present site of Pietermaritzburg
than even Tshaka's murdering hordes。 It was broken up in or about the
year 1824； when the Europeans first came to the country； and the remnants
of many scattered tribes returned and settled under their protection。
All this is history with which most people in South Africa are familiar；
but many do not know that some of the cannibals fled to Basutoland；
where； among almost inaccessible mountains； they carried on their
horrible practices for many years。
It is a well…known fact that when men once surrender themselves to
any unnatural and brutal vice； the gratification of the abnormal instinct
thus acquired becomes the most imperative need of their nature。 The
Falkland Islands case； as bearing specially upon the foregoing narrative；
may be mentioned。 Some convicts escaped from the Falkland Island
convict station； and succeeded in reaching the coast of Patagonia。 They
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then endeavored to make their way to Montevideo； but having to keep
along the shore so as to avoid the natives； who would have killed them had
they ventured inland； were easily intercepted by the government cutter；
which was always despatched in cases of the kind to head off fugitives
upon their only possible course。 Of the party only one man was found
alive。 In their dreadful need the men had cast lots as to who should be
killed and eaten by the others； and this went on until only the one man
remained。 His sufferings had been so horrible that he was let off any
further punishment； and simply brought back to the island to complete the
term of his sentence。 Some months after； this man induced another to
escape with him in a boat； and； when the boat was overtaken； it was found
that he had killed his companion for the purpose of eating the latter's flesh。
This was apparent from the fact that the supply of food which the fugitives
had taken with them was not exhausted。
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MARY MUSGRAVE
BY ANONYMOUS
〃Nine carets ef it's a blessed one。〃
〃Scale 'im； an' ye'll find he's a half better。 Clear es a bottle o' gin； an'
flawless es the pope！ Tommy Dartmoor； ye're in luck； s' welp me never ef
ye ain't； an' that's a brilliant yer can show the polis an' not get time fer。〃
Tommy Dartmoor； who owed his surname to a crown establishment
within the restraining walls of which he had once enjoyed a temporary
residence； growled out a recommendation to 〃stow that；〃 and then added；
〃Boys； we'll wet this。 Trek to Werstein's。〃
Forthwith a crowd of dirty； tanned diggers turned their heads in the
direction of Gustav Werstein's American Bar； and walked toward it as
briskly as the heat and their weariness would admit of。 The Israelite saw
them coming； straightened himself out of the half…doze in which he had
passed the baking afternoon； stopped down the tobacco in the porcelain
bowl of his long…stemmed pipe with stumpy forefinger； and； twisting a
cork off his corkscrew； stood in readiness。
〃Name yer pizons； boys； an' get outside 'em； wishin' all good luck to
R'yal Straight； R'yal Straight bein' the name o' this yer stone given by
Thomas D。 Hesquire； original diskiverer an' present perprietor。〃
The orders were given；bass at five shillings a bottle； champagne （nee
gooseberry） at five pounds； Cape smoke at two shillings per two fingers；
and； at a given signal； there was an inarticulate roar from dusty throats； an
inversion of tumblers over thirsty mouths； and a second inversion over the
ground to show that all the contents had disappeared。
Satan； the one cat and only