A BATTLE WITH A TORRENT 139 



was no need. What we wished to avoid was cut- 

 ting our way through the jungle when we should 

 reach the actual base of the mountain, and, as 

 this man knew the trails, he could save us days 

 of arduous work and vexation, so we "took him 

 on," to use an English expression. 



Three hours' march from Neri brought us 

 to the end of what seemed to be a "wood trail" 

 used by the native women wood-carriers in 

 the thick of a bit of jungle. 



"Boga," said we, "you're a great guide. 

 You told us you knew the trail, and here, before 

 we are scarcely out of Neri, you've lost us on a 

 wood trail. We don't believe you have ever 

 been up Mount Kenia." 



Boga's ingratiating smile spread from ear to 

 ear. "Bwana (master), indeed I have been al- 

 most to the very top of the mountain, but you 

 see, Bwana, I went up from the opposite side. I 

 know nothing of the trails on this side," he 

 replied. 



How like a native! Either through cunning- 

 ness or stupidness it might have been either; 

 it might have been both he had trapped us 

 into hiring him. 



Among our hundred Kikuyu porters, who had 



