WILD LIFE ACROSS THE WORLD 



fashion, putting their loads on this again, and all 

 reached the opposite bank without accident. The 

 majority speedily dashed back and indulged in the 

 luxury of a swim. Whilst I was watching them I 

 happened to notice Mahomed endeavouring to get 

 a certain carrier to enter the water. As I knew that 

 there was ill-feeling between them, I was anxious to 

 see what would happen. It was quite interesting. 

 Probably Mahomed offered to give his victim a 

 swimming lesson ; at any rate, the other was foolish 

 enough to trust himself to him. A few seconds 

 later he had good reason to repent his folly, for 

 Mahomed had him right under, let him rise, pulled 

 him under again, and would, I believe, actually have 

 drowned him had I not interfered. When I called 

 him ashore and demanded an explanation, he informed 

 me that the other was a " werry bad boy," who would 

 be good food for the crocodiles. 



That night lions made themselves heard, and several 

 prowled right round our camp, coming very close on 

 two occasions. We were out with our Somali hunters 

 after them as soon as it was light enough to see, but 

 failing to locate any of the brutes, gave up the quest 

 about nine o'clock. On returning, we found the 

 camp in commotion and boys up trees, as a rhino 

 had just galloped through, catching the ropes of one 

 tent and upsetting things a bit. We struck camp and 

 moved on quickly. Two hours later our luck seemed 



198 



