TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 85 



As 1 have said elsewhere, the horns of the aoul differ 

 considerably, and some otherwise well fitted out bucks 

 have no horns at all. These bucks are often as well 

 able to hold their own as their more perfectly equipped 

 (so-called) betters, frequently bossing a herd. Others 

 again have but one horn, and that deformed. 



It was near this place of the aoul that a most 

 amusing thing happened. Clarence and I got be- 

 nighted in the jungle, and didn't get home until 

 morning. I know that this sounds just like the plot 

 for a fashionable problem novel, but there wasn't much 

 problem about it really ; it all came about as a very 

 natural consequence, and happened mostly through 

 my enthusiasm over another splendid oryx. I stalked 

 this one for hours and hours, and the mosquitoes and 

 heat seemed but to sting him into keener alertness. I 

 could not get within range. I tried on foot, I tried 

 squirming along the ground flat, and then, when there 

 was nothing else for it, I'd mount my little pony once 

 again and furiously dash off in pursuit. When within 

 range I only got the oryx in the leg, a slight wound 

 merely, and I had to try and ride the wounded buck 

 down. A desperate business in this case, for he was 

 not hard hit. I did not like the idea of leaving a hurt 

 creature to die miserably after prolonged torture, so we 

 let him lead us on and on, and it was very nearly dark 

 before I gave that animal the coup-de-grdce. By the 

 time we had secured his head, a fine one indeed, his 

 shield and skin, it was dark. Night had descended 

 upon the jungle. We fired three times in quick succes- 

 sion, a signal agreed on in case we ever got bushed, 



