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Show PRINCESS MARY'S GIFT BOOK MAGEPA THE BUCK BY H. RIDER IIAGGARD III.W\\'III§N JIM IS QUITE GROWN U I' Drawings by J. BYAM SILUV, A.R.\V.S. \Vnisx Jim is quite grown up, And has a bulldog:r pup, \\ \ "mm IN a preface to the story of the early life of Reel. wounded, into camp, And munching bully-beef; the late Allan Quatermain. known in Africa as Macmnazahn, which has recently been Then, when he is a man. \Vhile Ann at the camp fire published under the name of "Marie." Mr. He means to marry Ann. "'ould listen and admire. Curtis, the brother of Sir Henry Curtis. tells ol' how he found a number of manuscripts 1:1: age is twenty-two, But he Min/rs she will do ; He has not told her yet, Or she might be upset .-\t having got to wait [Intil this distant date. ‘Vna'r fun he will have, too I And sits up very late Bound with a handkerchief, Always till hall'past eight, in: life that he will lead Sounds very fine indeed: \Yuu" Asn. after miles of tramp, Nothing he will not do. He often says to me (Excepting the V.C.) Medals he would decline- They are not in his line. UT he would soar to fame And win a glorious name. And Ann? How odd you are l Adventures, wounds, and lights, And huntingr raids of nights ‘ V ‘ 33 ' Murders and blug and fun \Yhy, just like his Mamma. \Vould sit at home and sew, \\ 1th sword and use and gun. Like women do, you know. Amsnlrs and hydroplanes, Mustangs and prairie flames l that were left by Mr. Quatermain in his house in Yorkshire. Of these " Marie " was one. but in addition to it and sundry other completed stories, I, the Editor to whom it was directed that these manuscripts should be handed for publication, have found a quantity of unclassified notes and papers. One of these notesgit is contained in a book. much soiled and worn, that evidently its owner had carried about with him for years-reminds me of a conversation I had with Mr. Quatermain long ago when I was his guest in Yorkshire. The note itself is short; I think that he must have jottcd it down within an hour or two ol'the event to which it refers. It runs thus: " I wonder whether in the ‘ Land Beyond' any recognition is granted for acts of great courage and unscltish devotion-a kind of spiritual Victoria Cross. If so I think it ought to be accorded to that poor old savage, Magepa, at least it would be it' I had any voice in the matter. Upon my word he has made me feel proud ol' humanity. And yet he was nothing but a ‘nigger.' as so many call the KalIirs." For a while I, the Editor, wondered to what this entry could allude. Deserts and jungles vast, And. when quite tired at last Then of a sudden it all came back to me. \Vith being on the roam, man. seated in the hall of Quatermain's‘ house one evening alter dinner. Of course, he would come home. I saw 1nyscll',as a young \Vith me were Sir Henry Curtis and Captain Good. \Ve were smoking, and the conversation had turned upon deeds of heroism. Each of us detailed such acts as he could remember which had made the most impression on him. NOT AN Has L'NF-« I \Vhen we had finished, old Allan said: " \Vith your leave I'll tell you a story of what 1 think was one of the bravest things I ever saw. It happened at the beginning of the Zulu war, when the troops were marching into Zululand. Now at that time, as you know, I was turning an holiest penny transport-riding for Government. or rather for the military authorities. I hired them three wagons with the necessary voorloopers and drivers, sixteen good salted Copyright {a the U.b'.:1. by H. Iiiclcr [I/lyymzl 63 Mum! Mum all |