BRITISH EAST AFRICA 261 



" Oh ! yes swarms," he was assured. 



" Really ? " he continued. "Is it safe now ? I 

 heard a man got pulled out of his bed the other 

 night ! " 



" Oh yes ! " said some one, " but that was his own 

 fault. He slept with his window open ! I suppose 

 you always have yours shut ? " 



His questioner admitted that he omitted no 

 precautions, " for," he naively added, " I always keep 

 my boots and socks on as well for fear of jiggers ! " 



This was too much for some of the audience, who 

 left hurriedly. 



The traveller continued his catechism. 



" Are there any lions here now ? " he went on, 

 addressing the bar tender. 



" Well, look here ! " exclaimed that exasperated 

 individual, " a lion walked across that tennis lawn 

 last week in broad daylight ! " 



The gentleman who travelled in boots was plainly 

 staggered. 



" But" he began feebly. 



" Come and ask the boss, if you don't believe me ! " 

 argued the bar tender fiercely. 



Yes, corroborated the boss, a lion had certainly 

 walked across the tennis lawn last week. He had 

 seen him with his own eyes. At that the " drummer " 

 collapsed, and was escorted by a strong force to his 

 bedroom. A delighted and appreciative audience 

 heard him carefully shut and bolt the window, 

 barricade the door, and throw himself with a sigh of 



