THE LAST FRONTIER 



But this, he learns, is quite impossible. It is 

 never done. It is absolutely necessary, in this cli- 

 mate, to avoid all work. 



That makes how many? Ten already: and there 

 seem to be three tent loads, one bed load, one chair 

 and table load, one lantern load, two miscellaneous 

 loads, two cook loads, one personal box, and fifteen 

 chop boxes total twenty-six, plus the staff, as 

 above, thirty-six. Why all the rest of the army? 



Very simple: these thirty-six men have, according 

 to regulation, seven tents, and certain personal ef- 

 fects, and they must have "potio" or a ration of one 

 and a half pounds per diem. These things must be 

 carried by more men. 



"I see," murmurs the American, crushed, "and 

 these more men have more tents and more potio, 

 which must also be carried. It's like the House 

 that Jack Built." 



So our American concludes still once again that 

 the other fellow knows his own game, and starts out. 

 He learns he has what is called a "modest safari"; 

 and spares a fleeting wonder as to what a really elab- 

 orate safari must be. The procession takes the 

 field. He soon sees the value of the four askaris 

 the necessity of whom he has secretly doubted. 

 Without their vigorous seconding the headman 

 would have a hard time indeed. Also, when he ob- 



420 



