WILD HUNTING COMPANIONS 165 



was really puzzling. Dog-like fidelity, persevered 

 in for months, would be ended by a fit of re- 

 sentment at something unknown, or by a sheer 

 volatility which made them abandon their jobs 

 when it was even more to their detriment than 

 to ours. But they had certain fixed standards 

 of honor; the porter would not abandon his 

 load, the gun-bearer would not abandon his 

 master when in danger from a charging beast — 

 although, unless a first-class man, he might at 

 that critical moment need disciphne to restrain 

 his nervous excitabihty. They appreciated jus- 

 tice, but they were neither happy nor well be- 

 haved unless they were under authority; weak- 

 ness toward them was even more ruinous than 

 harshness and overseverity. 



The personal attendants of Kermit and my- 

 self established a kind of "chief petty officers' 

 mess" in the caravan. Not only his own boys, 

 but mine, really cared more for Kermit than 

 they did for me. This was partly because he 

 spoke Swahih; partly because he could see 

 game, follow its tracks, and walk as I could not; 

 and partly because he exercised more strict con- 

 trol over his men and yet more thought and care 

 in giving them their pleasures and rewards. I 

 was apt to become amused and therefore too 

 lenient in dealing with grasshopper-Hke failings 



