GREAT HERDS OF WILD GAME 63 



dred miles would take me into almost unexplored 

 districts in some directions, where the natives would 

 greet me as some supernatural being. Perhaps I 

 might be greeted as a god and just in the midst of 

 these reflections they began to reel in the balloon. 

 The sudden stopping was not pleasant, for then 

 the balloon began to sway. Slowly the earth came 

 nearer and the wind howled through the rigging 

 and the partly filled bag flapped and thundered. 

 The wire, about as thick as a piano wire, looked 

 frail, but at last after a slow and tedious descent a 

 safe landing w r as made amid the wondering natives. 

 Cameras clicked and the moving picture machine 

 worked busily as the balloon was secured to earth 

 again. 



To Mrs. Akeley of our party fell the next chance 

 to go up. As she was lifted into the basket the 

 feminine population of Nairobi gazed in wonder 

 that a woman should dare venture up in a balloon. 

 The cameras clicked some more, somebody shook 

 hands with her, and it began to look quite like a 

 leave-taking. Just when all was ready the wind 

 sprang up savagely and an ascension seemed inex- 

 pedient. There was a long wait and still the wind 

 continued in gusts. At last it was determined that 

 we might as well settle down for better conditions, 

 so Mrs. Akeley was lifted out and we waited im- 

 patiently for the wind to die down. 



At last it died down, all was hurriedly prepared 

 for the ascension, and Mrs. Akeley took her place 

 again in the basket. In an instant the balloon shot 



