68 THE IMAGE OF WAE 



everything was sopping wet, the weather and water 

 were both warm, and we were soon at work drying 

 and cleaning ourselves and our property on the 

 opposite bank. Fortunately most of our things and 

 all our stores were in the country cart, which was 

 following, and the ammunition, being in the tight- 

 fitting drawer, had escaped. I have always rifle 

 cartridges soldered up in tin cases holding ten ; but 

 to have had our gun cartridges wetted would have 

 been a serious loss. 



Will was so penitent that I couldn't abuse him 

 as he deserved for his recklessness, which, after all, 

 had had no serious consequences ; but as it was ob- 

 vious there would be a long delay here, we decided 

 to camp till after dinner. I may add that the bullocks 

 never forgot the incident, and refused absolutely to 

 allow a European to get into the cart, so that we 

 had to make a swap with those in the other vehicle. 

 After we had had some breakfast we started ofl" up 

 the river with our guns, and shot some teal, snipe, 

 and hares. 



Dinner being over, our beds were laid in the cart, 

 and the bullocks moved off at their usual pace 

 (about two miles an hour), while we smoked till 

 we were sleepy and then dropped off. We awoke 

 to find daylight breaking over the camp, which was 

 pitched among some fairly open ground, broken with 

 clumps of jungle. We took our rifles and moved ofl" 

 in opposite directions. I was out some hours, but 

 only saw three does just as I was giving it up. 

 Meat was wanted in camp ; so after a fairly easy 

 stalk I shot one, and, marking the place, returned 

 to camp to send for it. Will was in before me, 

 having seen no quadrupeds, and only bagged a 



i 



