XXV AT MARSABIT 319 



expedition to the Kitui district. This was now 

 prepared for me by Mrs. B., and to it, and to her 

 careful watching and attention, I feel that I owe my 

 recovery. 



I knew that it would be a very serious matter if 

 anything were to happen to me at this particular 

 time, as in that case my unfortunate companion would 

 be left utterly alone and unprotected in this savage 

 land. The thought of what she might have to endure 

 helped me to fight against my illness and to keep 

 all knowledge of it as far as possible from the men 

 of the safari, lest they should think I was now a 

 negligible quantity and break out in mutiny again. 

 Day by day, therefore, I used to show myself at my 

 tent door, where I sat and gave the usual orders 

 about the daily routine, although the internal agonies 

 I was suffering at the time were such as I hope 

 never to experience again. 



It was perhaps a mercy that Mrs. B. was taken 

 out of herself by having to turn her attention to 

 nursing at this period of her distress. The very 

 fact that she had to begin anxious work so soon 

 after the tragedy had a good effect on her, as it 

 helped to divert her thoughts and roused her a 

 little out of her despondency. 



In a few days' time the fever and dysentery 

 abated, so, as soon as I was at all fit, I called Papai 

 the guide to me and questioned him about the 



