135 

 get that Coelacanth. But he would have none of it even when I 

 pointed to matches and Hghted cigarettes. I could not help 

 smiling, I knew what I was about. I have sat with that stove alight 

 between my knees, balancing it and atop as well a pot of water, 

 in the well of a madly rolling and pitching boat, surrounded by 

 petrol, paraffin, and explosives, and had no fear. Of all the wonder- 

 ful things of today I rank a primus stove very high, for without 

 it much of our tropical work would be virtually impossible. It 

 is as wonderful as the fact that boiling water kills amoeba and 

 bacteria. Have you ever thought what life would be like if it 

 did not ? Anyway, despite my musings we all did without coffee. 



I was back in my seat, tensed and taut, when Blaauw came to 

 me and said with a grin, 'This trip is going to make you rich. A 

 radio message has just come to say that the Council for Scientific 

 Research are giving you an award of five hundred pounds.' I 

 could not help smiling at this layman's view and shouted, 'No, 

 my lad, no riches for me. I asked them for this for expenses, to 

 pay for the Coelacanth and other etceteras.' Good old P. J. du 

 Toit, he had acted quickly and well, and I had no doubt that this 

 would be another tasty item for the press. 



I told Blaauw and Letley that it might prove not to be a Coe- 

 lacanth at all, I had gone on Hunt's briefest words. This shook 

 them, and they whistled in astonishment and some alarm. It was 

 impossible to tell them all that lay behind this. They told me that 

 the plane cost about ^^^40 per hour in flight, so even if it were a 

 Coelacanth I calculated it was going to cost at least ^f 20 per 

 pound landed in South Africa, if it ever was. A costly fish indeed, 

 in more ways than one. No commercial fishing this ! They wanted 

 to know if I had told the Prime Minister that there was a degree 

 of uncertainty. I said of course, but I had told him that I was 

 prepared to stake my name and reputation on this venture so 

 as not to risk losing this fish if it really was a Coelacanth. They 

 were obviously surprised, but made no further comment, prob- 

 ably because it would have been difficult to express their thoughts 

 politely, but it also made them realise how much greater was the 

 strain it imposed on me. 



These men were patently all so capable that I hesitated to 

 interfere in any plans, but I had to come in, for my knowledge 

 and my needs were both important, and must play their part. 



