9 o TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



campwards, the mad rush of the ponies being clearly 

 visible to us. Through bushes, anyhow, helter skelter 

 they had pelted. 



I had to stop and rest frequently, as my load was 

 more than a little heavy, though Clarence carried as 

 much, and more, than he ought. The rifles alone were 

 no light weight, and when it came to the slain animals 

 as well we found them all a bit of a trial. 



In some thick grass a great wart-hog rose up before 

 me, and after giving me a look from his tiny fierce 

 eyes, lost himself again. I flung my load down, all 

 but the very necessary rifle, and went after him. He 

 made some ugly rushes in the long grass, but I dodged 

 and chased him to clearer country, until I could get in 

 a shot which, raking him, ended his career as a perfect 

 king of his kind. I did not want to take his tusks 

 merely, as I desired his head to be a complete trophy. 

 But when Clarence strenuously refused to touch the 

 creature I knew I could not then, tired as I was, 

 play butcher myself. So I had to be contented with 

 digging out his huge tushes. And a very messy job 

 it was too. 



We took up our loads again, and went back over the 

 ground over which we had chased the oryx the evening 

 before. I was progressing wearily enough when I 

 almost stepped on a yellow snake, with a dark head, 

 lying near a thorn bush. It was only about eighteen 

 inches long, but quite long enough to make me jump 

 some feet, all encumbered as I was. Clarence looked 

 genuinely surprised. 



"You not afraid of aliphint," t he said, a thing we had 



