94 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



anything. At last we all, even the Somali who brought 

 us the news of the distant game, and who seemed to 

 like us very much, for we never got rid of him again 

 lent a hand, and began to unload the laden camels, 

 carrying the goods to terra-firma some sixty yards 

 away. 



The moment the camels considered their loads 

 lightened they condescended to heave themselves up 

 a little. After loading up again we proceeded but a 

 little way, indeed but a few hundred yards, when the 

 whole thing repeated itself. The camels were em- 

 bedded once more. Cecily and I decided to go on 

 and leave them all to it, and try and get any sport that 

 might be had, ordering the men to release the camels 

 from this new quagmire of theirs, and to afterwards 

 form zareba close to the place, I was really glad to 

 ride away from the whole thing, confusion and every- 

 thing. The disorganised, unsettled feeling I got re- 

 minded me of that which comes to one at home during 

 the annual upheaval known as the spring-cleaning. 

 The green grass was springing up with the recent 

 rains, and our little ponies made light of the muddy 

 going. The spoor of all sorts of game was everywhere 

 apparent, and we were most interested to see traces of 

 ostrich, although we did not that day come across any, 

 indeed they are rather difficult creatures to see. 



We separated, as was our wont, Cecily taking 

 Clarence, and I the Baron, whom we had now, in 

 spite of his romancing propensities, promoted to 

 second in command. He had great acumen when he 

 chose to display it, and was no sort of a coward. But 



