AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



We had as guide a slender and wiry individual 

 clad in tarboosh and long white robe. In a vague 

 general way we knew that the town of Mombasa, 

 was across the island and about four miles distant. 

 In what direction or how we got there we had not 

 the remotest idea. 



The guide set off at a brisk pace with which we 

 tried in vain to keep step. He knew the ground, 

 and we did not; and the night was black-dark. 

 Commands to stop were of no avail whatever; nor 

 could we get hold of him to restrain him by force. 

 When we put on speed he put on speed too. His 

 white robe glimmered ahead of us just in sight; and 

 in the darkness other white robes, passing and 

 crossing, glimmered also. At first the ground was 

 rough, so that we stumbled outrageously. Billy 

 and B. soon fell behind, and I heard their voices 

 calling plaintively for us to slow down a bit. 



"If I ever lose this nigger I'll never find him 

 again," I shouted back, "but I can find you. Do 

 the best you can!" 



We struck a smoother road that led up a hill on 

 a long slant. Apparently for miles we followed 

 thus, the white-robed individual ahead still deaf to 

 all commands and the blood-curdling threats I had 

 now come to uttering. All our personal baggage 

 had long since mysteriously disappeared, ravished 



60 



