IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



branches with their trunks or trampling in the jungle 

 and breaking the saplings in their path. I lay flat, 

 putting my ear to the ground, but did not hear the 

 heavy footsteps of elephants. I got up and said to 

 myself: " It is a heavy dead limb of a tree that fell 

 and was the cause of the noise I heard." Neverthe- 

 less I walked more slowly to give time to Rogala to 

 overtake me. I had gone but a little way when I 

 heard the breaking of another sapling or tree-branch ; 

 then I stopped and waited for Rogala. 



Soon after I saw him coming, and I gave the " click " 

 warning, made with my tongue striking my palate. 



At this sign Rogala stood still. I beckoned him to 

 come to me. I could not hear his footsteps as he 

 walked towards me. No leopard or night prowler in 

 search of prey could have made less noise. 



As he came near me, I put one of the fingers of my 

 right hand upon my lips. This meant, " Be silent, do 

 not say a word." Then I put my left hand to my 

 ear; that meant, "Listen." 



We remained silent looking anxiously at each other. 

 Suddenly another breaking of a limb of a tree was 

 heard. Rogala knew the cause of the noise, and 

 whispered, " Ngina." 



We looked at each other without saying a word, 

 then looked at our guns. They were all right. Then 



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