WAYS AND MEANS 



ling; fell from lips to ground, though 

 clearly audible to him for whom they were 

 intended. Selous' acomplishment is worth 

 the learning, and the practising. Put on 

 the mute as soon as the foot falls upon the 

 trail, sinking and modulating into close ac- 

 cord with the woodland orchestra, or the 

 accompaniment will be drowned. 



All this : and as yet nothing, beyond a 

 hint from a Jesuit Father, of the two utter- 

 ly important equipments for the nomadic 

 (or any other) life — vision; an even mind. 

 Unless we project ourselves into the future, 

 and conjure up in due succession the situa- 

 tions to arise, there comes, to our con- 

 founding, a time and a place where some 

 flaw reveals itself, some indispensable thing 

 is found lacking. But by no means will it 

 answer to give a carte blanche to fancy, and 

 indent accordingly. The extra canoe calls 

 for another man to carry it. He must be 

 fed and sheltered at the expense of yet an- 

 other back and legs which ask, in their turn, 

 further canoe capacity, more pounds of 

 flour and pork, — an endless progression. 

 Prevision discovers what will be needed, 

 and when, and where, for the unfolding of 

 a plan comfortably, without hitch; there- 

 after the problem is akin to the mathe- 

 253 



