AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



camp by the time we reached there. We concealed 

 somewhat cynical smiles, and agreed. 



The early start was made, but when we reached 

 camp we found, not the Wanderobo, but Leyeye and 

 the Masai huddled over a fire. This was exasperat- 

 ing, but we could not say much. After all, the whole 

 matter was no right of ours, but a manifestation of 

 friendship on the part of Naiokotuku. In the early 

 afternoon the sky cleared, and the ambassadors de- 

 parted, promising faithfully to be back before we 

 slept. We spent the day writing and in gazing at 

 the vivid view of the side hill, the forest, and the 

 distant miniature prospect before us. Finally we 

 discovered what made it in essence so strangely 

 familiar. In vividness and clarity, even in the 

 crudity of its tones, it was exactly like a coloured 

 photograph ! 



Of course the savages did not return that evening, 

 nor did we really expect them. Just as a matter of 

 form we packed up the next morning, and sat down 

 to wait. Shortly before noon Leyeye and the Masai 

 returned, bringing with them two of the strange, shy, 

 forest hunters. 



But by this time we had talked things over 

 thoroughly. The lure of the greater kudu was re- 

 gaining the strength it had lost by a long series of 

 disappointments. We had not time left for both 



340 



