xxvi MY TWO WILD DOGS 237 



me in an unmistakable invitation to join his 

 play. 



On one occasion, he fell ill, and as I was setting 

 out from camp on a hunt, I decided to leave him 

 behind in charge of some of my men, hoping that 

 with rest and plenty of good food he would recu- 

 perate. On my return, about a month afterwards, 

 Jumbo was delighted to see me, and having 

 thoroughly recovered from his indisposition, came 

 running up to me in a state of wild excitement, 

 licking my hands and scampering round me and 

 through my legs for sheer joy, but I had not been 

 long in camp before I learned that he had 

 developed a very nasty temper towards my natives. 

 Apart from the fact that he had bitten two of them, 

 and there was a chance of blood-poisoning ensu- 

 ing, my head man informed me that my natives 

 threatened to leave me if I kept the dog. Now, on 

 setting out from camp, I had left fowls for Jumbo's 

 food, and told my natives to snare quails, pigeons 

 and guinea-fowls to supplement this diet, but I felt 

 certain that Jumbo had seen little of these luxuries 

 intended to restore him to health, and had been ill- 

 treated into the bargain. So I forgave him his sins, 

 and having cajoled my men into a better frame of 

 mind, things ran smoothly once more. But alas ! 

 Jumbo's very faithfulness to me brought about his 

 end, for, one day, a native, when approaching me, 



