BACK TO CIVILIZATION 363 



dogs was bravely swimming after us. He wasn't 

 built for swimming, but he was making a gallant 

 effort. We stopped and picked him up, a drippy 

 but grateful little creature. Then we had to row 

 back to get the other one. By much strategy we 

 succeeded in getting on board the Umzumbi with- 

 out taking them with us, but as we were not sailing 

 until the afternoon we stayed on board only long 

 enough to see that our state-room arrangements 

 were satisfactory and to meet the chief steward. 



On our way back through the town the dogs got 

 lost from us, but when we reached the room at the 

 hotel they were comfortably installed in the square 

 of sunshine that streamed through the window. 

 They refused to break home ties. Several more 

 times that day we executed elaborate manceuvers to 

 lose them without the painful formality of saying 

 good-by. But all in vain. We tried to give them 

 away and finally succeeded in persuading one 

 woman from up Uganda way that they would be 

 useful to her. 



She was considering the matter when we, f eeling 

 like heartless criminals, stole away from the room, 

 leaving it locked, and leaving two trustful and 

 trusting little dogs incarcerated within. We told 

 the proprietor of our dastardly conduct, but cau- 

 tioned him not to liberate the captives until the 

 steamer was hull down on the horizon. So by this 

 time I suppose there are two little white dogs 

 searching Mombasa for two missing Americans and 

 wondering at the duplicity of human nature. 



