190 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



If he had not possessed a sense of duty, he would 

 have done this long ago. 



We camped always well up on some of the 

 numerous hills ; for, although anxious enough to 

 find lions in the daytime, we had no use for 

 them at all by night. This usually meant that 

 the boys had to carry water some distance. We 

 kept a canvas bath-tub full for the benefit of the 

 dogs, from which they could drink at any time. 

 This necessary privilege after a hard day nearly 

 drove Captain D. crazy. It happened like this : 



We were riding along the slope of a hillside, 

 when in the ravine, a half mile away and below us, 

 we saw something dark pop up in sight and then 

 down again. We shouted to some of the savage 

 Wakamba to go and investigate. They closed 

 in from all sides, their long spears poised to strike. 

 At the last moment out darted, not an animal, 

 but a badly frightened old man armed with bow 

 and arrow. He dashed out under the upraised 

 spears, clasped one of the men around the knees, 

 and implored protection. Our savages, their 

 spears ready, glanced over their shoulders for 

 instruction. They would have liked nothing 

 better than to have spitted the poor old fellow. 



We galloped down as fast as possible to the 

 rescue. With reluctance our spearmen drew 



