186 WAR: CAMPAIGNING IN EAST AFRICA 



fast, and though not very strong (our feet got 

 very sore and badly cut), we travelled like mad- 

 men ; for we were free, and terribly afraid of being 

 recaptured. The fourth day we struck a party 

 of Shensis (raw natives) in some quiet bush. 

 They looked well disposed, so, putting on a bold 

 face, we had a long talk with them. Of course 

 they knew what we were ; for it is not the custom 

 for white men to travel unarmed and without 

 servants — to say nothing of our generally dis- 

 reputable, runaway appearance. They were 

 promised good backshishi to take us through to the 

 English, and warned that if they told the Germans 

 and got us recaptured, they would themselves 

 have to answer for it eventually to the British. 

 As they knew that the English were slowly eating 

 up the Germans throughout the whole country, 

 the natives decided, after a long talk, to accom- 

 pany us as guides. 



At once we were off. It was most necessary to 

 get away before they had time to change their 

 minds. Our hopes of getting through were now 

 high, for our guides were scared and taking no 

 risks, which facts made it all the safer for us. 



The enemy were scattered more or less all 

 through the country we travelled, and occasion- 

 ally we heard them shooting ; but I felt sure our 

 guides were thoroughly to be trusted. We were 

 very careful ; always camping at night in the 

 thickest scrub we could find, and, when food 

 had to be cooked, never stopping a minute longer 



