Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/544

 $a« TRAVELS TO DISCOVER

one on the right, then one on the left ; they both fell dead on the ground ; a great ihout immediately followed from the fpectators below, to which I feemingly paid no attention, pretending abfolute indifference, as if nothing extraordinary had been done. I then difmounted from my horfe, giving him and my gun to my fervant, and, fitting down on a large Hone, I began to apply fome white paper to flaunch .a -fmall fcratch the firfl horfe had given me on the leg, by rubbing it againft a thorn tree : as my trowfers, indeed, were all flained with the blood of the firfl horfe, much cut by the fpur, it was generally thought I was wounded.

Fasil on this fent for me to come immediately to him, having juft got up from a fleep after a whole night's de- bauch. He was at the door of the tent when I began ri- ding my own horfe, and, having feen the mots, ordered the kites immediately to be brought him : his fervants had la- boured in vain to find the hole where the ball, with which I had killed the birds, had entered ; for none of them had ever feen fmall-fhot, and I did not undeceive them. I had no fooner entered his tent than he afked me, with great -earnellnefs, to fhew him where the ball had gone through. I gave him no explanation ; but, if you have really an in- .clination to kill me, faid I, you had better do it here, where I have fervants that will bury me, and tell the King and the Iteghc the kind reception you have given ftrangers whom .they have recommended. He afked what I meant ? What was the matter now ? and I was going to anfwer, when Welleta Michael told him the whole ftory, greatly in my favour, in- deed, but truly and plainly as to the trick about the horfe. The Fit-Auraris Woldo faid fomething to him in Galla, which plainly made the matter worfe. Fafil now feemed in 4 a ter-