140 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



lived under the very shadow of the mountain 

 all their lives, there must be some one who knew 

 the right trail. But no; the snow-capped peak, 

 glistening in the sun, did not appeal to these 

 half-naked fellows. They were working for us 

 because their chiefs, in making the treaty with 

 the government, had agreed to furnish the 

 white men with porters when called upon, and 

 they were anxious for some excuse to turn back, 

 so none volunteered to act as guide. 



"Very well," we said, "we are going up 

 Mount Kenia, trail or no trail, so if you would 

 prefer to cut your way through the jungle or 

 stumble along with your heavy packs it makes 

 no difference to us," and we started on again. 



Then it was that a porter suddenly remem- 

 bered that he knew the general direction if 

 we crossed the gully beneath us we would soon 

 come out on a veldt and by skirting it for a 

 few miles we might strike the right trail. The 

 rascals! They knew the way well enough but 

 hoped to turn us back by declaring their inabil- 

 ity to act as guides. 



We put the new guide at the head of the pro- 

 cession and in half an hour were out in the 

 open country once more. In the distance was a 



