304 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA ch. xxiv 



Marsabit, which was only one long march ahead, 

 to complete my work and get fresh camels for 

 the return journey. This would only delay her a 

 day or two longer, and then I would go back 

 as quickly as we could travel. 



As she was of course in a very dazed and grief- 

 stricken condition, I thought it advisable for her 

 sake to get away from this ill-fated spot as soon as 

 possible. Accordingly about two o'clock in the after- 

 noon of the 2ist March, 1908, exactly two months 

 since we left Nairobi, we set out on a most dismal 

 and mournful journey across the sterile and waterless 

 Kaisoot Desert. The dreary landscape added to 

 the depression of our spirits, and never shall I 

 forget the wretchedness of that march. I tried 

 hard to talk but failed miserably, so we rode along 

 in gloomy silence, our minds full of the sad event of 

 the morning. 



At about six o'clock I halted the safari for an 

 hour on the edge of a bit of bush, and when we had 

 gathered some dry wood we lighted a fire, and soon 

 had a kettle boiling. 



I felt I had to rouse my companion out of her 

 despondency, and used all my powers of persuasion 

 to induce her to drink a little tea and eat a biscuit, 

 as she had had practically no food all day. Mean- 

 while the safari rested and refreshed themselves for 

 the next spell of desert march. 



