THE CAPTURED

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 164, 13 July 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE CAPTURED

PART IL Those were the true details of the story that was speedily known to every tribe within a great extent of area. The Fontano themselves are prone to travelling about, working for a time with this tribe and that, and puffed with glory at the happening, they saw to it that the tale was given due publicity at the Camp fires of safari and merchant cav;>.van, in the village market and meetingplaces. As it happened, the expedition against the Fontano was never pushed to a definite conclusion. They were badly punished in several encounters, some of their land being confiscated and given to weaker tribes that they had wronged. But, there being at that period other troublesome matters on hand, 110 visit of vengeance was paid to the Fontano capital itself, where to the grief and shame of the regiment when it heard of the tragedy, was hung, in proof of the enemy's supposed equality as a fighter, the captured bugle of the K.A.R. "For the moment the times are against us," said, an officer of that gallant regiment, when one day discussing the affair with Billy Piatt, who was as yet still the "Boy Trader"; all the officers liked Billy, and their mess bought much of his traded eggs, poultry and greenstuff. "There is, unfortunately, plenty of military work to do elsewhere," he continued, "and so the Fontano must wait their turn. One of these days we shall again be out against them, and then Banja's bugle will come back to us. The only thing that might happen is that, prizing the trophy as they do, at the first threat of danger to the bugle they will bury

or otherwise hide it, and so clieat us of its recovery. Certainly the Fontano are sure to secrete the bugle if tliey think that we are coming for it. Maybe, indeed, by such direct methods Banja's bugle never will be got back, though, of course, it is up to us to try." Their conversation took place upon the high road, where Billy, with his mule cart, had met the officer riding into town, and when the "Boy Trader" heard that suggestion made by one who knew, namely, that' Banja's bugle might possibly never be won back by force of arms, a quickening thought sprang into Billy's mind. He had met and was favourably known to many of the Fontano; twice in his longer trips he had been on the borders of their country, where perhaps more so than any other variety of white visitor, a "kraal-trotter" had a chance of preserving his life, b.ecause the people would hope to see him again with fresh wares. -So did Billy Piatt argue to himself as he sat there listening, perched upon his cart in the sunlight; with the result that before the day was out lie had resolved: "So soon as things have quietened down, I will make a trading trip' to the Fontano. A trading trip?— m'yes!—and something more than that. For by hook or by crook, I will try to bring back Banja's bugle." Months passed, during which the excitement of the Fontano punitive expedition was gradually forgotten, but months that kept Billy Piatt busy arranging all the details of his coming adventure. Purposely he planned that his trading journeys should take him further afield than usual, for in that way he came into touch with more members of the scattered Fontano tribe. By judicious prompting in the course of quiet conversations with them, he made himself sure of many facts that would be of use to him in his endeavour, and it was only then that he fully j

Bugle.

A Story of the Kinds African Rifles

° sy RAYMOND RAIFE

/jj (Illustrated by E. Simmons.)

understood how greatly the reputation of tlie Fontano had been increased in the eyes of their fellows by their possession and retention of the Captured Bugle. Despite the absence of such things as a native Press, of telegraph or telephone or wireless, news travels fast in those parts, and soon the story of the lost bugle was known throughout Central Africa, delighting the more savage tribes and putting renewed heart for mischief into every rebel chief. Bit by bit Billy built up his fund of information about the bugle, whereabouts it was displayed in the chief's kraal, and so forth, and then he sent word to the chief that he was on his way there with the most sumptuous selection of trade goods ever got together. Billy thought it well to give that intimation, because he had done so on the occasions of his previous visits in that direction; also harvest had just been got in, and the people could save their earnings to buy off or else barter with him. As he neared the Fontano capital, however, he had cause to wonder whether it would not have' been better to have arrived unannounced. For from various sources he learned that, in view of the visit of a white man, the bugle was no longer publicly displayed, but had been placed for safety in the Sacred Hut, as it was called, of the dead Fontano witch doctor, Icambo, where it hung beside Icambo's Magic Cloak, composed of birds' tails trimmed with fish bones. "Bothering over what has already happened, though, is now neither here nor there," argued Billy to himself, philosophically. "I am fairly launched on my lone-handed exploit, so I'll take things as tlicv come and make the best of it." He had with him a native driver and an assistant -* —"to see that the goods are not stolen while I am selling them," he explained—but those individuals could scarcely be accounted as companions in the enterprise. Very cordial was the welcome of the Fontano chief and people. Accommodation was provided for the visitors, and Billy hired an armed guard to keep an eye on his things. At once Billy set about the business of locating the Sacred Hut, which proved to be quit& a troublesome quest, for no one seemed inclined to say a word about it, and the chief himself, with whom Billy had several chats, told him that the topics of the Sacred Hut and of the. Captured Bugle were subjects as to which it was taboo to talk.

"In fact," said the chief, with great show of simulated candour, "we ourselves do not know where the buglo is. It used to be kept in the Court House, but it has disappeared, some say spirited by Icambo, the dead great Fontano witch doctor himself, for safer keeping, until one dav he returns to us in some form or "other to claim his Magic Cloak." As Billy Piatt listened to this artless tale told to him by the Fontano chief, and evidently intended to divert Billy's attention from the matter of the bugle, he murmured to himself another sceptical "M'yes!" But he paitl due attention to all available details as to dead Icambo, concerning whom he had already gleaned many particulars that promised to be serviceable. "In fact," said Billy afterwards, in his own cheerful way, "I had even then decided to take the gre.it departed witch doctor into partnership: 'Icambo, Piatt and Co.,' being the style of a firm intending to do big things in the lost bugle line of business." In other words, Billy had decided upon a certain course of action. Sale and barter had been brisk; in two days he had disposed of considerable stock, and when on the third day he did discover where and which was the Sacred Hut, ho lost no time in making his onslaught upon it. Billy's native assistant, to guard the trade goods, was v a fat-faced fellow who, though attired in an old straw hat, gamekeeper's tailed coat, "plus fours" minus most of their nether portion and what had once been patent leather shoes, was by no means such a simple-minded person as he looked. So much so, that when they arrived in the Fontano capital, Billy had no hesitation about promising him a nice present if, without arousing suspicion by his inquiries, he could find out where was the Sacred Hut. Billy imagined that, like many another witch doctor's hovel of mystery, it would prove to be tucked away somewhere in the dismal forest, which, however, he soon found was not so. On the very next day that man of [ mixed sartorial styles went to the little boy of the house, or rather human pig stye, where he was quartered, and, producing an electric torch that was one of his dearest possessions, offered to show the awed youngster what he described as "the moon in a tin can." "But remember," he stipulated, "the moon will sliine in the tin can only when we are near to the Sacred Hut. Come, let us go to it, and I will show you this wonder." Tliey went, and, as indicated by the child, "the moon shone in a tin can" close to a quite small English summer-house-like erection of bundled reeds plastered with clay, standing upon a little mound right in the centre of the town. That, then, was the place of safety wherein reposed those treasures of the Fontano, the Captured Bugle and the Magic Cloak of Icambo, the witch doctor. There was the stronghold which Billy would have to assail. (To be concluded.)