THE EXPLORATION OF LAKE CHAD 77 



destined soon to be upset, and by no other means than that 

 which first brought sorrow into the world. A deadly serpent 

 bit my ox in the night and its body, the precious casket in 

 which I had locked up the last of my treasure, was broken 

 up to furnish a feast for the " boys." 



It was now the tenth of April and five sections had already 

 reached the new camp, and another fortnight saw the last of 

 them leave Kaddai. It was an anxious time, for one never 

 knew from one day to another what the next would bring. 

 There was always the fear of desertion and sickness, but 

 fortunately we were in a game country and I was able to get 

 meat sometimes, which kept the carriers in good temper. 

 While I took charge of the new camp, Jose remained at 

 Kaddai, and so we kept the " boys " at fetch and carry 

 between us. Every two days I expected a section to come 

 in and my little camp assumed the appearance of a ship- 

 builder's yard as the number of sections grew. With 

 one inverted and placed on the top of another, I made 

 a shelter for myself against the fierce heat of the sun. 

 When it was about time for another section to come in, 

 how anxiously would I scan the horizon for the queer object 

 made by the four men with the section on their heads ! As 

 it came galumphing through the dancing mirage in the 

 region of the Lake it seemed like some many-legged monster 

 that had escaped the Flood. Even the hartebeest stood 

 and stared in wonder at the sight. 



I had no lack of food at this time. Two 'kind old 

 Kanembu shepherds came every morning with presents of 

 goats' milk which made my porridge of corn go down very 

 well, and sometimes meat completed my bill of fare. 



^ 



