CAPTURED BY AFRICAN SAVAGES 275 



From the edge of the ten-foot elephant-grass 

 where he hid, he saw plenty of hartebeest and 

 water-buck. Although he longed for fresh meat, 

 he dared not risk a shot at the animals. Late 

 in the afternoon he was awakened by the 

 voices of women who were evidently gathering 

 wood near by. As soon as it was dark enough 

 he cooked his last sweet potatoes, and when he 

 had eaten them he struck out once more on 

 his journey. 



That night's travel was the hardest he had 

 experienced. There were many lagoons and 

 swamps of papyrus, and in order to get round 

 one of them he had to tramp fully five miles 

 out of his way. When morning came he felt 

 sure that he had gone less than ten miles in a 

 direct line. 



As soon as the sun rose he climbed a tree 

 and saw a small banana grove about a mile 

 away. He was hungry, and the good luck he 

 had had so far made him bold. He was walk- 

 ing somewhat carelessly along a trail toward 

 the grove when, in a sharp bend, he came face 

 to face with a woman carrying several gourds 

 of milk. A boy about ten years old was walk- 

 ing behind her. 



