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 take-off at 4 a.m. There was a general groan, and after a bit of a 

 skirmish we fixed for 4.30, coffee at 3.30 a.m., the cars at 3.45 a.m. 

 Some of them grinned. Would the Portuguese make it ? I offered 

 to bet them it would all be on time, as indeed it was — to the 

 minute. 



If my room was the coolest, heaven help the others, and if it 

 was like this here, what about that fish at the Comores ? I lay and 

 sweated and tossed but could not sleep; for though I had pills 

 with me, I use them as seldom as possible, never when my mind 

 must be at full stretch. At i a.m. I got up and smiled as I lit my 

 primus, thinking of Blaauw. I made coffee and almost took him 

 a cup. Once again I tried to sleep, but my mind was too active, 

 so at 2.30 I got up, took my torch, and went to have a look round. 

 I envied the native servants, who were as usual soundly asleep 

 all over the place ; indeed, you have to step over them. The night 

 before I had noticed some pineapples in the kitchen, and went 

 to explore the possibilities of the pantry. There were some nice 

 pineapples, bananas, and papaws. I packed a selection in a carton 

 and took them to my room, leaving my card stuck in the brush of 

 one of the remaining pineapples. The owner-manager would 

 smile, for he was an old friend. 



At 3.15 a.m., just to be sure, I went round. They were all up, 

 all had coffee, none were effusive. 



Lions are not uncommon about Lumbo, and they sometimes 

 ramble round the airport at night ; and though for the sake of the 

 crew I hoped we might see one, none were about that morning. 

 It was hot even at that time. Phew ! think of the Comores. 



We took off at 4.30 to the second. 



