DOWN THE RIVER. 



our expedition, we returned to camp. From 

 that time begins a regular sequence of events on 

 which I look back with the keenest of pleasure. 

 The two constant factors were the river and the 

 great dry country on either side. Day after 

 day we followed down the one, and we made 

 brief excursions out into the other. Each night 

 we camped near the sound of the swift running 

 water, where the winds rustled in the palms, 

 the acacias made lacework across the skies, 

 and the jungle crouched in velvet blackness 

 close to earth like a beast. 



Our life in its routine was regular ; in its 

 details bizarre and full of the unexpected. Every 

 morning we arose an hour before day, and ate 

 by lantern light and the gleam of fires. At the 

 first gray we were afoot and on the march. 

 F. and I, with our gunbearers, then pushed 

 ahead down the river, leaving the men to come 

 along as fast or as slowly as they pleased. After 

 about six hours or so of marching, we picked out 

 a good camp site, and lay down to await the 

 safari. By two o'clock in the afternoon camp 

 was made. Also it was very hot. After a light 

 lunch we stripped to the skin, lay on our cots 

 underneath the mosquito canopies, and tried 

 to doze or read. The heat at this time of dav 



