ii2 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



trace the wonders of the world in which we lived: 

 each morning come on romance in footprints, tragedy 

 in massed spoor, "sermons in stones, and good in 

 everything." 



It is not to be thought that all things went smoothly. 

 In a big caravan of the kind such an idyllic condition 

 of things would be well-nigh impossible. There were 

 the most awkward disagreeablenesses and unpleasant- 

 nesses of all sorts to bother us. I hate sporting books 

 full of grumbling and tales of discomforts. Nobody 

 asked the sportsman to undertake the job, and nobody 

 cares if he "chucks" it. Therefore why write reams 

 about miseries when there are so many things to make 

 up for them ? No life is all couleiir de rose ; but we 

 can make light of the darkness, " walk in its gardens, 

 and forget the rain." 



Ostrich spoor was now all about, but they are the 

 most difficult of all things to come on at close quarters. 

 I stalked odd birds, birds in twos, birds in trios for 

 hours, but never came within any sort of range. 



All the natural history as told to me in childish days 

 about the ostrich burying its head in the sand and 

 imagining itself hidden I found very much of a 

 nursery romance. The ostrich takes no chances, and, 

 so far from burying its head, has to thank the length of 

 its neck for much of its safety. 



After days of wriggling about on the flanks of 

 ostrich, in the front and in the rear, I confided my 

 chagrin to Clarence. He said he had A Plan. I told 

 him I was delighted to know that, and would he 

 unfold it at once ? It seems very ridiculous, but just 



