FIRST EXPEDITION TO EAST AFRICA 81 



but he was evidently afraid to remain out alone 

 on the plain. 



In the morning I sent Masai to look for him, 

 but they were unable to find him. The zebras 

 may have turned upon him and killed him, 

 but it is more probable that he was killed by 

 a lion. 



On my return journey from the Boma to 

 the railway at Nakuro, I had an unpleasant 

 experience. I was marching as usual, with 

 Johnny and two of the Kikuyu, in front of the 

 porters, and the path or track we were following 

 led through a large open plain. I ought to have 

 stopped and waited for the porters, but a man 

 whom we met pointed out a track, which, as he 

 said, led to Nakuro, and we marched on. We 

 were then within 40 or 50 miles of Nakuro. It 

 was about 9 a.m. and we marched until noon, 

 when I selected a suitable place for a camp and 

 sat down and had a light lunch, a fragment of 

 Paysandu tongue and a few petit beurre biscuits, 

 and a drink of lime-juice and water. At about 

 i p.m. I told Johnny to go and look for the porters, 

 as they usually arrived at the camping-ground 

 about one hour after we did ; but he was lazy, 

 and made some excuse and did not go. At 3 p.m. 

 matters were beginning to look serious, and I 

 sent the two Kikuyu to see what had happened. 

 In a short time they returned, and it was clear 

 to me, from their manner and bearing, that 

 they had not seen the porters. We accordingly 

 started back along the track, and after going 

 for some distance met a native, who was camp- 

 ing out alone in the forest, and he and Johnny 

 6 



