CHAPTER XXIII 



THE TRAGEDY IN THE DESERT 



NEXT morning we obtained our camels, said 

 good-bye to our friend Lemerlene, and continued 

 on our way. The march was a rather trying one of 

 some sixteen miles, but the monotony of the journey 

 was broken now and again by a herd of giraffe 

 crossing our path, or by a rhino or other interesting 

 animal breaking away through the bush, startled by 

 the unusual spectacle our caravan presented to its 

 astonished gaze. 



Away- to our front and on our line of march 

 we could see a solitary pinnacle of reddish rock, 

 jutting up into the heavens in solitary state. On 

 asking Papai what it was called, he told me it was 

 known as Mwele. It was with no little satisfaction 

 that I passed under the shadow of this rocky 

 landmark, as our camping place for the night was 

 only a short distance beyond it, and then but 

 another long day's journey would bring us to that 



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