AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



grass was soft; I would have given anything for a 

 nap. But in wild Africa a nap is not healthy; so 

 I drowsily watched the mongooses that had again 

 come out of seclusion, and the monkeys, and the 

 birds. At the end of a long time, and close to sun- 

 down, I heard voices. A moment later F., Memba 

 Sasa, and about three quarters of the men came in. 

 We all, white and black, set to work to make camp. 

 Then we built smudges and fired guns in the faint 

 hope of guiding in the stragglers. As a matter of 

 fact we had not the slightest faith in these expedients. 

 Unless the men were hopelessly lost they should be 

 able to follow our trail. They might be almost 

 anywhere out in that awful scrub. The only course 

 open to them would be to climb thorn trees for the 

 night. Next day we would organize a formal search 

 for them. 



In the meantime, almost dead from exhaustion, 

 we sprawled about everywhere. The men, too 

 dispirited even to start their own campfires, sat 

 around resting as do boxers between rounds. Then 

 to us came Memba Sasa, who had already that day 

 made a double journey, and who should have been 

 the most tired of all. 



"Bwana," said he, "if you will lend me Winchi,* 

 and a lantern, I will bring in the men." 



*His name for the .405 Winchester. 



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