CREATURES OF DARKNESS 215 



specimens that came my way, and set out once more to explore. 

 I was feeling very good that morning and for the first time in 

 months found myself singing. It was "de blessin" again. The 

 tangy smell of highly fragrant leaves filled the morning air; 

 the trade whispered softly in the tree tops; its cool pressure 

 fanned against my chest. A sense of well-being permeated my 

 body. It was good to be alone with the sun and wind for com- 

 pany. The song finished, I began to whistle. Tales fro?n the 

 Vienna Woods, Humor es que, snatches from Veer Gyjit, the 

 Meditation from Thais went echoing down the glades. Amaryl- 

 lis, minor notes from Puccini's Butterfly, Old Man River, Or- 

 pheus, the Fledermaus; I had no idea my repertoire was so 

 varied. I was whirling to a climax on the dulcet notes of De- 

 bussy's Afternoon of a Faun, intent on the proper scaling of 

 the music, when suddenly I was yanked unceremoniously from 

 my feet and flung lengthwise on the ground. Dazedly, I looked 

 up. Griselda was heading full tilt for the thorn jungle. She 

 reached the edge of the bushes, turned, brayed demoniacally 

 and then disappeared between the trees. I jumped to my feet 

 and ran after her. She was nowhere in sight; food, water, every- 

 thing had vanished. In the distance I could hear her clattering 

 between the cacti. 



Fully half an hour elapsed before I caught up with her. She 

 was wound up in a lignum tree, snared hopelessly with the 

 lead rope. Both her heels let fly as I approached, my camera 

 and equipment were strewn all over the ground. Angry at being 

 so rudely snatched out of the blandishments of Debussy and 

 sore from the thump on the ground, I retaliated with a stout 

 club. For a moment we had it hot and heavy, then Griselda 

 quieted down and I reloaded her pack. I started out with the 

 lead line; abruptly reached the end of the tether and came to 

 a sudden halt. Griselda refused to budge. I beat her, I pushed, 

 I yanked. She was adamant. In the depths of despair I even 



