THE LAND OF FOOTPRINTS 



tates of common decency would call a halt that per- 

 sistent and single-minded pursuer bounds solemnly 

 and conscientiously along in the wake of his dis- 

 gusted rival. 



These and the zebra and wildebeeste were at Juja 

 the most conspicuous game animals. If they could 

 not for the moment be seen from the veranda 

 of the house itself, a short walk to the gate was suf- 

 ficient to reveal many hundreds. Among them fed 

 herds of the smaller Thompson's gazelle, or "Tom- 

 mies." So small were they that only their heads 

 could be seen above the tall grass as they ran. 



To me there was never-ending fascination in walk- 

 ing out over those sloppy plains in search of adven- 

 ture, and in the pleasure of watching the beasts. 

 Scarcely less fascination haunted a stroll down the 

 river canons or along the tops of the bluffs above 

 them. Here the country was broken into rocky 

 escarpments in which were caves; was clothed with 

 low and scattered brush; or was wooded in the bot- 

 tom lands. Naturally an entirely different set of 

 animals dwelt here; and in addition one was often 

 treated to the romance of surprise. Herds of im- 

 palla haunted these edges; graceful creatures, trim 

 and pretty with wide horns and beautiful glowing 

 red coats. Sometimes they would venture out on 

 the open plains, in a very compact band, ready to 



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