THREE LIONS AND NO RIFLE! 



midst ; but the doctor was only staying for the night, 

 as he was anxious to reach Butiaba as soon as possible. 

 Having waited in Koba for six days getting together 

 the necessary stores for a three months' trip, I set out 

 from there on the morning of the seventh day. Nothing 

 extraordinary happened until, on nearing the big tree 

 just north of Wadelai and half an hour after crossing 

 the first river, I missed six of my boys. This was about 

 four p.m. Knowing the country round there to be safe, 

 except for the leopards that were wont to stroll around 

 after sunset, I did not at the time pay any particular 

 attention to the circumstance ; but it was not until about 

 eight o'clock that they turned up. 



" Where have you been ? " I asked. 



' ' We washed ourselves in the river, Bwana ; and 

 then the rain came, and we stayed until it stopped," they 

 replied. 



Yes, the rain had come right enough, and these boys 

 had stayed behind with my tent, kit-bag, and three of 

 the loads, so I had to go without my tent and mosquito 

 net in the meantime. 



Next day we reached Panyongo safely, but at night 

 a terrific storm broke over us, and a huge tree close by 

 was struck by lightning. The next morning, on going 

 down to the river side, I was surprised to hear a lot of 

 shouting going on among some natives on the opposite 

 bank. On emerging from the grass and standing at the 

 water's edge, I saw a European on the opposite side 

 surrounded by a number of police boys, who were busy 

 loading their kit into a canoe. The officer — for such 

 he proved to be — was directing the loading of his packages 

 in the frail craft. This was how we greeted each other — 



' Hallo ! Good morning ! " he shouted across. 



" Good morning ! " I replied. " Have you come from 

 Nimule ? " 



" Yes, I am H , now on my way to Koba." 



135 



