CH. xvi A WIDOW'S STORY 175 



and Dr. Rose mentioned that Mr. O'Hara (the 

 engineer in charge of the road-making), with his 

 wife and children, was encamped in the Wa Taita 

 country, about twelve miles away from Voi. 



Early next morning I went out for a stroll with 

 my shot-gun, but had not gone far from the doctor's 

 tent when I saw in the distance four Swahili carrying 

 something which looked like a stretcher along the 

 newly-made road. Fearing that some accident had 

 happened, I went quickly to meet them and called 

 out to ask what they were carrying. They shouted 

 back " Bwana " (" The master ") ; and when I asked 

 what bwana, they replied "Bwana O'Hara." On 

 enquiring what exactly had happened, they told me 

 that during the night their master had been killed 

 by a lion, and that his wife and children were 

 following behind along the road. At this I directed 

 the men to the hospital and told them where to find 

 Dr. Rose, and without waiting to hear any further 

 particulars hurried on as fast as possible to give 

 what assistance I could to poor Mrs. O'Hara. 

 Some considerable way back I met her toiling 

 alone with an infant in her arms, while a little 



o 



child held on to her skirt, utterly tired out with the 

 long walk. I helped her to finish the distance to 

 the doctor's tent ; she was so unstrung by her terrible 

 night's experience and so exhausted by her trying 

 march carrying the baby that she was scarcely able 



