106 



SHORT STALKS 



conveys a literal description. Our depraved appetites 

 often longed for meat in a less crude condition, and we 

 tried to save up for our own consumption what had been 

 killed a reasonable time ; but we were always informed 

 that the " stinkino; stuff" had been left behind at the last 

 camp, and no expostulation availed. Owing to this 

 improvidence, w^e were sometimes needlessly sharp set 

 when our larder just before had been overflowing. 



> ) 



ORIS. 



Another of the amiable weaknesses of Oris, our cook, 

 was to purloin the best of our stores for his own private 

 consumption ; but his most objectionable characteristic was 

 a very violent and dangerous temper. One morning 

 towards the end of our trip, I was peacefully eating my 

 porridge, when the rufiian set upon me in so insolent a 

 fashion that Gerald knocked him down. This increased the 

 blind rage of this Caliban, and he picked up a large knife 



