TREKKING THROUGH THE THIRST 151 



marched out of camp singing and blowing their horns and 

 whistles. Three askaris brought up the rear to look after 

 laggards, and see that no weak or sick man fell out with- 

 out our knowing or being able to give him help. 



The trail led first through open brush, or low, dry forest, 

 and then out on the vast plains, where the withered grass 

 was dotted here and there with low, scantily leaved thorn- 

 trees, from three to eight feet high. Hour after hour we 

 drew slowly ahead under the shimmering sunlight. The 

 horsemen walked first, with the gun-bearers, saises, and 

 usually a few very energetic and powerful porters; then 

 came the safari in single file; and then the lumbering 

 white-topped wagons, the patient oxen walking easily, each 

 team led by a half-naked savage with frizzed hair and a 

 spear or throwing-stick in his hand, while at intervals the 

 long whips of the drivers cracked like rifles. The dust 

 rose in clouds from the dry earth, and soon covered all 

 of us; in the distance herds of zebra and hartebeest 

 gazed at us as we passed, and we saw the old spoor of 

 rhino, beasts we hoped to avoid, as they often charge such 

 a caravan. 



Slowly the shadows lengthened; the light waned, the 

 glare of the white, dusty plain was softened, and the bold 

 outlines of the distant mountains grew dim. Just before 

 nightfall we halted on the further side of a dry watercourse. 

 The safari came up singing and whistling, and the men 

 put down their loads, lit fires, and with chatter and laugh- 

 ter prepared their food. The crossing was not good, the 

 sides of the watercourse being steep; and each wagon 

 was brought through by a double span, the whips crack- 

 ing lustily as an accompaniment to the shouts of the drivers, 



