THE TOPI CAMP 



I men claiming to suffer from rheumatism. I sus- 

 pected him, and still suspect him, of malingering in 

 advance in order to get out of the hard work we must 

 soon undertake — but had no means of proving my 

 suspicion. However, I decided to administer asperin. 

 We possessed only the powdered form of the drug. 

 I dumped about five grains on his tongue, and was 

 about to proifer him the water with which to wash 

 it down — when he inhaled sharply I I do not know 

 the precise effect of asperin in the windpipe, but it 

 is not pleasant. The boy thought himself bewitched. 

 His eyes stuck out of his head; he gasped painfully; 

 he sank to the ground; he made desperate efforts 

 to bolt out into the brush. By main strength we re- 

 strained him, and forced him to swallow the water. 

 Little by little he recovered. Next night I missed 

 him from the clinic, and sent Abba Ali in search. 

 The man assured Abba Ali most vehemently that 

 the medicine was wonderful, that every trace of 

 rheumatism had departed, that he never felt better 

 in his life, and that (important point) he was per- 

 fectly able to carry a load on the morrow. 



3SI 



