A DAY ON THE ISIOLA 



tion broke and they rushed us with a yell. Our 

 horses plunged in astonishment, and we had hard 

 work to prevent their bolting, small blame to 'em! 

 The men surrounded us, shaking our hands fran- 

 tically. At once they appropriated everything we 

 or our gunbearers carried. One who got left other- 

 wise, insisted on having Billy's parasol. Then we 

 all broke for camp at full speed, yelling like fiends, 

 firing our revolvers in the air. It was a grand entry, 

 and a grand reception. The lest of the camp poured 

 out with wild shouts. The dark forms thronged 

 about us, teeth flashing, arms waving. And in the 

 background, under the shadows of the trees were 

 the Monumwezis, their formation regained, close 

 gathered, heads bent, two steps swaying to the right 



— stamp! — two steps swaying to the left — stamp! 



— the white wands gleaming, and the rumble of 

 their lion song rolling in an undertone: 



"Goom zoop! goom zoop!^^ 



189 



