tìUNTiNG AND VISITING III 



I lifted the barrel slowly. I looked out . . . and saw, near 

 the two animals, a smaller one ; a young gazelle, all legs, with 

 two big flapping ears and two enormous eyes. It trembled 

 with nervousness. Its father browsed quietly while the mother 

 looked on. 



I remained unexpectedly imimobile. And at the risk of 

 sounding banal, I record that my five-month-old child and 

 my wife passed through my mind. ... I lowered my gun and 

 prepared to move away; but the young gazelle saw me, and 

 startled, cried out. All three flew off like the wind with their 

 heads up, in the direction of the great plain behind. The poor 

 little chap followed his parents, bouncing along on his four 

 stiff legs, unable to keep up with them. Then they made a 

 half- about-turn, put him in the middle and carried him off 

 at all speed from the Enemy, who remained on his rock, 

 watching them escape and feeling his spirit relieved. For a 

 great number of reasons he felt a lump in his throat. 



Gigi passed that night in hot hell, with the temperature of 

 a camel. He began to notice vague pains in his left leg, but 

 dismissed them as nothing to worry about. Both of us thought 

 it was the effect of too much sun, and on the following 

 morning he was much better, without temperature, pains or 

 nausea. He was keen to take a walk, so we decided to make a 

 courtesy visit to Sheik Serag Mohammed Kamil, Governor 

 ofallDahlak. 



I have already mentioned the Sheik in connection with 

 Nasi's house. He kept residence in the village of Gembeli 

 and not in the capital of Dahlak Kebir. This was because 

 Gembeli was but an hour's walk from Mersa Nasi, the only 

 landing point on the island, whereas the capital had been cut 

 off from sea communication by the growth of cyclopean 

 shelves of madrepore right in front of the city at the old 

 landing point. 



