A BRAVE MAN'S MAGNA. NIMITY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1026, 23 March 1894, Page 7

A BRAVE MAN'S MAGNA. NIMITY.

! .The gallant devotion of Stanley's little band of Arab heroes, who, 200 strong, beat back vast hordes of cunning and devilish cannibals, along 1000 miles of river ? or while his l»ig canoes overland around .the Congo cataracts, making roads over mountains and through jungles, dashing forth in search of food, forms a tale as pathetic and beautiful as it is amazing. One incidert, however, must be told, if. only for the light it throws on Stanley's character. He had much trouble with his men on account of their inherent propensity to steal, the results of which -brought upon the expedition much actual disaster. At last Stanley doomed. the next man stealing to death. His grief and distress w«re unbounded when the' next thief, detected in a case of peculiar flagrancy, was found to be Uledi, the bravest, truest, noblest of the dusky followers. Uledi had saved 100 lives, his own among the number. He. had performed acts of the most brilliant daring, always successful, always faithful always kind. Must Uledi die? He called all his men around him in council. He explained to them the gravity of Uledi's crime. He reminded them of his. stern decree, but said he was not hard enough to enforce Jt against Uledi;, His arm was not strong "eno;ugh"to;; lift the gun that would kill Uledi, and he would not bid one of them do what he fwould not do himself. But some punishment and a bard one, must be meted but. What should it be 3 The council must decide. They took a vote. Uledi must be flogged.* When .the .decision was reached, Stanley • standing, Uledi crouching at his feet, and the solemn circle drsiwn.. closely arbund'them, one man whose life Uledi had saved under cirsumstanees of frightful peril, stood forth and said : ' Give, me half; the blows, 'master;' Then another -saidj^ in the faintest accents; while tears fell from his eyes, 'Will the -master give the.j3lajr.e r ;leave,to speak f ,?; .'Yes,' said Stanley. The Arab came forward and knelt by Uledi's side,. His words, came slowly, and, now arid, then a sob" broke them. ' The master, is wise,' he said. 'He knows. all that has-been, for* tie writes them in a book! : I* am i blaok, and know not, Nor o&n/ I re-

member what is past. What we saw yesterday is to-day forgotten. But tht* master forgets nothing. He puts it all in that book. Each day something is written. Let your slave fetch the book, masser, and turn its leaves. Maybe you will find .some words there about Uledi. Maybe there is something that tells how he saved Zaidi from the white 'waters of Ihe cataract; how he saved many men—how many, I forget, Ben, Ali, Mabruski, K'oni Kusi— others, too, How' he. is worthier than any three of us, how he always listens when the master .sppaks, and flies forth at his word. Look, matter at the book. Then, if- the blows must be stricV, Shuraari will take half and I the other half. The master will do what is right. Saywa has spoken.' Saywa's speech deserves to live for ever. Stanley threw away his whip. ' Uledi is free/ he said. ♦ Shumari and Saywa are pardoned.'