318 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA CHAP. 



two tents, each with a separate doorway. Outside 

 mine I always had a sentry posted, with instructions 

 to call me on the slightest alarm, as I always lay 

 down in my clothes with a rifle ready to hand in case 

 of need. 



I would have given Mrs. B. the whole tent to 

 herself, only that on the day we got to Marsabit I 

 most unluckily fell seriously ill with an attack of 

 fever and dysentery. Rain also began to fall, as 

 it usually does here every day during the forenoon 

 at this season of the year. It was therefore abso- 

 lutely necessary that I should not only have shelter, 

 but also most careful nursing and attention, as 

 dysentery is no light malady, and if neglected 

 may prove fatal in a few days, especially to one 

 who has had an attack before. 



It is impossible for me to express my gratitude to 

 Mrs. B. for the care she took of me during my 

 illness, while she herself was still in the throes of a 

 great misfortune. If I had during these days been 

 left to the tender mercies of my servant, it is more 

 than probable that I should not have been alive to 

 write this account of my expedition, as for some 

 time it was touch-and-go whether the fever and 

 dysentery could be brought under or not. Fortu- 

 nately I had brought with me some tins of powdered 

 milk, which was quite a new invention, and had 

 been kindly given to me by Mrs. S. during our 



