202 THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



moment. It was no time for flash judgment nor quick 

 action, that was most certain. 



While they were covering the distance of the return 

 journey I had Ali bring out my canvas chair, and es- 

 tabhshed myself and it beneath the shade of a tree. 

 Mooli's eyes were roUing. Two men struggled with 

 him. Evidently he was about ready to run amok. 



Began by asking him innumerable questions requir- 

 ing a yes or no for answer; and insisted on getting 

 that answer. At first it was difficult; but after a time 

 I got his mind more or less focussed, which was what I 

 was after. " You were going to Nairobi? " "Do you 

 know the direction of Nairobi?" "Do you know that 

 Nairobi is two months' safari distant?" "Do you 

 know that on the road are many Masai who would 

 spear you?" "Do you know there is no food on the 

 road?" "Do you know that if you went to Nairobi 

 you would go to prison for two years?" (Sheer bluff, 

 of course.) "Do you know that even if you were to 

 hide in your tribe the askaris would find you? " 



This interchange took time, and gave an opportunity 

 for everybody to calm down. At the end of it all the 

 bystanders were calm and listening with the deepest 

 attention. I could now venture on the didactic. 



"You made kalele and ran away when you got 

 kiboko. When a safari boy gets kiboko and deserves it 

 he says nothing." 



This is so true that a deep murmur of assent went up. 



