Cool.

Otago Witness, Volume 30, Issue 2353, 30 March 1899, Page 60

Cool.

When the natives of the Gold Coast hinterland captured Lieutenant Henderson, an army officer, they got into a wordy discussion as to how • they should 'kill him. The victim listened anxiously but with outward calmness. " Oh, well," said the lieutenant at last, " I cannot bo bothered with your arguments! I'm very Fleepy. Let 010 know when you have decided " ; and off to sleep he apparently went. I The unexpected performance saved his life. ; His calm indifference persuaded Samory's : men that they were dealing with someone of immenso importance. Unwilling to take on I themselves the responsibility .for his death, .they sent him unharmed to Samory's court, in the Jimini country. Here Lieutenant Henderson once again saved himself by a like exhibition of courage. He found Samory on a throne, surrounded by many warriors, yet when motioned to do j homage on hi» hands and knees he did nothing of the sort. He sat down on the throne beside Samory , and shook that monarch warmly by the hand.

Thanks to his coolness and assurance he was accepted as the representative of a great sovereign instead of a captive doomed to death. Ho talked to Samory of the Queen, and Samory talked to him. Thus a mis=ion which might have ended, as so many African missions have ended, in a terrible silence and a suspicion of unspeakable horror, came to a satisfactory termination.