XVIII 

 IN THE JUNGLE 



(a) THE MARCH TO MERU 



NOW, one day we left the Isiola River and cut 

 across on a long upward slant to the left. In 

 a very short time we had left the plains, and were 

 adrift in an ocean of brown grass that concealed all 

 but the bobbing loads atop the safari, and over which 

 we could only see when mounted. It was glorious 

 feed, apparently, but it contained very few animals 

 for all that. An animal could without doubt wax 

 fat and sleek therein: but only to furnish light and 

 salutary meals to beasts of prey. Long grass makes 

 easy stalking. We saw a few ostriches, some giraffe, 

 and three or four singly adventurous oryx. The 

 ripening grasses were softer than a rippling field of 

 grain; and even more beautiful in their umber reds 

 and browns. Although apparently we travelled on 

 a level, nevertheless in the extreme distance the 

 plains of our hunting were dropping below, and the 

 far off mountains were slowly rising above the hori- 

 zon. On the other side were two very green hills, 



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