ACROSS THE SERENGETTI. 235 



fresh trees meeting in canopy overhead were full 

 of monkeys and bright birds; festooned vines 

 swung their great ropes here and there ; long 

 heavy grass carpeted underfoot. 



After we had rested a few minutes we filled our 

 empty canteens, and prepared to start back for 

 our companions. But while I stood there, Memba 

 Sasa good, faithful Memba Sasa seized both 

 canteens and darted away. 



" Lie down ! " he shouted back at me, " I will 

 go back." 



Without protest which would have been futile 

 anyway I sank down on the grass. I was very 

 tired. A little breeze followed the watercourse ; 

 the grass was soft ; I would have given anything 

 for a nap. But in wild Africa a nap is not 

 healthy ; so I drowsily watched the mongooses 

 that had again come out of seclusion, and the 

 monkeys, and the birds. At the end of a long 

 time, and close to sundown, I heard voices. A 

 moment later F., Memba Sasa, and about three- 

 quarters of the men came in. We all, white and 

 black, set to work to make camp. Then we built 

 smudges and fired guns in the faint hope of 

 guiding in the stragglers. As a matter of fact 

 we had not the slightest faith in these expedients. 

 Unless the men were hopelessly lost they should 



