TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 99 



I was by this time aching all over, and there was 

 nothing to do but make provision for as comfortable a 

 night as might be. We collected what spare blankets 

 we could, and lay down near one of the fires. Though 

 so weary I could not sleep, and the camp was never silent 

 for a moment. The fires were kept high, and shots 

 fired at intervals to guide the wandering camel-men. 



The men lay about or sat about the watch-fires, and 

 in the middle of the night two of them began to fight. 

 In the lurid light the scene was sufficiently realistic to 

 be unpleasant. They began with loud words, pro- 

 gressed to blows, and then advanced to spears. 

 Thinking that rifles would probably be the next re- 

 source, I got up and called on the men to desist. They 

 took no more notice of me, naturally, than if I had 

 never spoken. And as the now thoroughly awakened 

 camp appeared to be going to take sides in the busi- 

 ness, I got my " express " and shrieked out loudly that 

 I then and there meant to make an end of both the 

 combatants. Although they were not supposed to 

 understand English, they translated enough from my 

 resolute manner and threatening gestures to know that 

 I would put up with no nonsense. They ceased the 

 combat as suddenly as they began it, but not before 

 camel-man No. 1 had jabbed camel-man No. 2 in the 

 fleshy part of his thigh. 



I told Clarence to hold No. 1 in durance vile whilst 

 No. 2 had to be attended to with as much care as if 

 we really sympathised with him. All my desire was to 

 be able to shoot both of them on sight. I was so tired 

 I could hardly see, and too aching to do more than 



