DAEKNESS COMES ON APACE. 245 



went hopping down hill again. By dint of 

 every man doing all he could to help ; by the 

 exertion of immense energy and marvellous 

 strength on Simon's part, we, in the course of 

 an hour, had saved our baggage and piled it in 

 safety, and what was more unhoped for had 

 got the horse on his legs again. 



The dusk was now coming on apace, and 

 one glance over the edge at the road before us 

 was enough to convince the most foolhardy 

 that even goats if laden could not hope to 

 accomplish the descent successfully. So after 

 a long palaver Deto, our cook, was paid off, 

 furnished with food, tobacco, and a rifle, and 

 though very frightened and averse to the 

 undertaking, started back to Lapiir in charge 

 of the horses for Gebi. Then each man 

 shouldered all he could carry, and any foolish 

 pride which I had till then entertained in my 

 own strength vanished for ever, as I saw the 

 enormous load which by common consent was 



