ACROSS THE THIRST 



til noon, by which time we had nearly reached the 

 shoulder of Suswa, around which we had to double. 

 The sun was strong, and the men not yet hardened 

 to the work. We had many stragglers. After lunch 

 Memba Sasa and I strolled along on a route flanking 

 that of the safari looking for the first of our meat 

 supply. Within a short time I had killed a Thomp- 

 son's gazelle. Some solemn giraffes looked on at 

 the performance, and then moved off liked mechan- 

 ical toys. 



The day lengthened. We were in the midst of 

 wonderful scenery. Our objection grew to be that 

 it took so long to put any of it behind us. Insensi- 

 bly, however, we made progress. Suddenly, as it 

 seemed, we found ourselves looking at the other 

 side of Suswa, and various brand-new little craters 

 had moved up to take the places of our old friends. 

 At last, about half-past four, we topped the swell 

 of one of the numerous and interminable land 

 billows that undulate across all plains countries here, 

 and saw, a few miles away, the wagon outspanned. 

 We reached it about sunset, to be greeted by the 

 welcome news that there was indeed water in the 

 pan. 



We unsaddled just before dark, and I immediately 

 started toward the game herds, many of which were 

 grazing a half mile away. The gazelle would supply 



279 



