Sporting Trips of a Subaltern 



would stop her. We strengthened the zeriba, 

 put on an extra sentry, and made preparations 

 for lighting fires. It was a pitch-dark night, and 

 I could imagine the fearful confusion there would 

 be if she burst in. The Somali is terribly ex- 

 citable, and they would have been blazing off 

 their Sniders at random. We waited up a bit, 

 but, hearing nothing, went off to sleep, which was 

 as well for our peace of mind, as she did get on 

 the trail, and came roaring down it to within a 

 mile of us, when she came to where Eustace's 

 route home had been subsequently crossed by 

 our camels coming in from grazing. Here she 

 had branched off, losing the scent, I suppose. 



The next day Eustace hunted her again all 

 day without success, came back in the evening, 

 and, taking one of our donkeys, tied it up near the 

 bush whence he had taken the cubs, and sat over 

 it in a small zeriba. I heard no shot in the night, 

 and started before 6 a.m. to look for gerenuk, as I 

 wanted another good buck. I soon heard three 

 shots in quick succession. Now, this was a signal 

 agreed on whereby in the absence of both of us 

 our head-man could recall us quickly to camp in 

 case of any trouble, or of good "khubber " (news 

 of game) being brought in. I accordingly galloped 

 back as hard as I could, and found Eustace about 

 to leave camp. He had been as much surprised 

 at the shots as I had myself. He had wounded 



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