FIGHTING AN AFRICAN GRASS-FIRE 41 



exhibit their newly vested authority. In fact, 

 the eagerness with which these "bosses" watched 

 for an opportunity to apply the whip, and the 

 alacrity with which they did it as soon as a man 

 showed symptoms of shirking, added much to 

 the rapid progress that was being made. 



The colonel swung a panga as dexterously as 

 any one, and when he noticed a gang of men that 

 appeared to be backward in the work he strolled 

 over and put some of his "progressive" spirit 

 into it. 



The roar and crackle of the flames was becom- 

 ing louder and louder every minute, and it was 

 soon evident that our race with the fire would 

 be a close one and a fight to the finish. 



Kermit walked out to look the situation over 

 and returned with the news that the blaze was 

 not more than two miles away and was bearing 

 down upon us a little quicker than a fast walk. 

 This report seemed to inspire the porters and 

 they worked more willingly. 



About sundown Cuninghame and Heller came 

 in with the rhino skin and skeleton, and this gave 

 us fifty more men, who were at once put at work. 



Cuninghame was somewhat puzzled at our 

 actions. 



