THE HUNTER'S LIFE 13 



nature warns me that I must not tax my energies 

 farther, we start on the return journey to our main 

 camp. Temporarily, the excitement and dangers 

 are over, but a new sense of joy fills the heart, for 

 my men are delighted at the thought of seeing their 

 wives and children or chums again, and I am eager 

 to get back to the comfort of my tent, which, in 

 spite of its simplicity, has for me all the charm that 

 lies hidden in that 

 word home ! My 

 men laugh and 

 chatter ceaselessly 

 as they march, and 

 I have lived so long 

 among them that I 

 know their thoughts 

 as I know my own, 



and Speaking their ELEPHANT'S TOOTH. 



i ., . 13" in length, 3!" in width, about 9 Ibs. in 



language as fluently weight. 



as themselves, often join in their jesting. They 

 thoroughly appreciate this, and from them I learn 

 what they are unable, if not unwilling, to com- 

 municate to most white men. It is to this intimacy 

 of thought that I ascribe my success in the manage- 

 ment of natives, for I know exactly when to be 

 severe and when to be kindly with them. 



As we approach camp, we see the smoke of our 

 fires, and no one, who has not lived the life, can 



