I 



THE SABLE 



However, we did not see one; and I staggered into 

 camp at dusk pretty well exhausted. From the 

 most grateful hot bath and clean clothes I derived 

 much refreshment. Shortly I was sitting in my 

 canvas chair, sipping a coconut, and describing 

 the condition of affairs to F., who was naturally very 

 curious as to how the trick was done. 



"Now," I concluded, "I know just about what 

 I can and what I cannot do. Three days more of 

 this sort of work will feed me up plenty. If we do 

 not run across a sable in that time, I'm afraid we 

 don't get any." 

 ' "Two days will do for me," said he. 



We called up the guide and questioned him closely. 

 He seemed quite confident; and asserted that in 

 this country sable were found — when they were 

 found at all, which was not often. They must be 

 discovered in the small grassy openings. We began 

 to understand why so very few people get sable. 



We dismissed the guide, and sat quietly smoking 

 in the warm soft evening. The air was absolutely 

 still save for various night insects and birds, and 

 the weird calling of natives across the valleys. 

 Far out toward the sea a thunderstorm flashed; and 

 after a long interval the rumblings came to us. So 

 very distant was it that we paid it little attention, 

 save as an interesting background to our own still 



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