XI 

 A MARCH ALONG THE COAST 



I HAD now a most comfortable feeling that my 

 task was done, that suddenly the threatening 

 clouds of killing work had been cleared up, and that 

 now I was privileged to loaf and invite my soul on 

 this tropical green hilltop while poor F. put in the 

 days trying to find another sable. Every morning 

 he started out before daylight. I could see the light 

 of his lantern outside the tent; and I stretched my- 

 self in the luxurious consciousness that I should 

 hear no deprecating but insistent "hodie" from my 

 boy until I pleased to invite it. In the afternoon or 

 evening F. would return, quite exhausted and drip- 

 ping, with only the report of new country traversed. 

 No sable; no tracks of sable; no old signs, even, of 

 sable. Gradually it was borne in on me how lucky 

 I was to have come upon my magnificent specimen 

 so promptly and in such favourable circumstances. 



A leisurely breakfast alone, with the sun climbing; 

 then the writing of notes, a little reading, and 

 perhaps a stroll to the village or along the top of the 



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