Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



nasty-looking country, and I decided to await the 

 elephant's visit, and ordered my tent to be pitched 

 near the edge of the sugar-cane, which appeared 

 the most likely spot. I told the chief to send out 

 his people to search diligently and to bring word. 



I employed myself in trying to learn the tracks 

 and points of the neighbourhood by heart, in case 

 I might get into difficulties during the darkness. 

 The moon was bright, which was in my favour, and 

 as it was every other night that my friend paid his 

 visit, he was due that evening. Everything seemed 

 as propitious as could be until I made back to 

 camp: the usual crowd of people to interview. 

 Firstly, my orderly returned to say the native hunter 

 was drunk and incapable; secondly, two scouts from 

 headquarters, with a very pressing letter of in- 

 structions. I tore the missive open ; the very look 

 of the envelope predicted evil. The orders were 

 to return at once, if not sooner; a code-cable just 

 arrived to march at once with an armed force to 

 occupy a town called Mbarara, in Southern Uganda. 



Did I curse? Yes; everything. But orders are 

 orders. Nevertheless, I had to stay that night, and 

 so I staked all upon the elephant turning up, whilst 

 I turned in with all my clothes on, to my very 

 ammunition boots, with my rifles loaded by my side. 

 Not a chance, so at daylight next morning I hastily 

 got under weigh and marched back to Hoima, where 

 I proceeded to pack up my kit and bid my farewells, 

 as I had a presentiment I should never return; nor 

 did I ever do so. 



112 



