302 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA ch. xxiii 



two of the rascals began to creep up, and gradually 

 one by one they came, and before the hour was up 

 every man in the safari had fallen into line on the 

 parade ground, and I breathed freely once more, as 

 I saw that the mutiny was completely quelled. 



Long afterwards I heard that, fearing I would 

 have them punished on my return, the rogues had 

 concocted quite a plausible tale to account for their 

 action ; but they behaved so well subsequent to the 

 mutiny, that I had quite forgiven them by the 

 time we got back to Nairobi, and even if I had 

 been well enough to take an active interest in their 

 prosecution I should not have thought of bringing a 

 charge against them. 



As soon as the men returned to their duty I 

 immediately set them to work, and we re-arranged 

 the loads and discarded everything that was no 

 longer required. I found it necessary to have part 

 of B.'s tent burnt, and the rest I had rolled up and 

 put away, as I did not wish painful memories to be 

 recalled to Mrs, B.'s mind by the sight of it. 



I also had other articles destroyed which were 

 now no longer of any use, and in this way I got 

 rid of a couple of loads, knowing that every pound 

 I took off the men's burdens would be a consider- 

 able help to them when crossing the desert. 



