XXV 

 VOI 



PART way up the narrow-gauge railroad from 

 the coast is a station called Voi. On his way 

 to the interior the traveller stops there for an evening 

 meal. It is served in a high, wide stone room by 

 white-robed Swahilis under command of a very 

 efficient and quiet East Indian. The voyager steps 

 out into the darkness to look across the way upon 

 the outlines of two great rounded hills against an 

 amethyst sky. That is all he ever sees of Voi, for 

 on the down trip he passes through it about two 

 o'clock in the morning. 



At that particularly trying hour F. and I de- 

 scended and attempted, by the light of lanterns, to 

 sort out twenty safari boys strange to us, and mis- 

 cellaneous camp stores. We did not entirely succeed. 

 Three men were carried on down the line; and the 

 fly to our tent was never seen again 



The train disappeared. Our boys, shivering, 

 crept into corners. We took possession of the 

 dak-bungalow maintained by the railroad for just 



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