170 TWO DIANAS IN SOMAL1LAND 



had taken with him our -35 Winchester. I doubt if 

 he ever fired a rifle in his life, but I swore he shouldn't 

 learn on ours. I would go after him, and catch up with 

 him, if I had to pursue him all the way to Berbera 

 itself. My chance of meeting that lion — which Clarence 

 had practically located — were knocked out at 1000 

 to 1. 



A few speedy directions and questions produced a 

 couple of our best camels, lightly laden, and the know- 

 ledge that the fugitive had about an hour's start of us, 

 having indeed, waited to go until he saw Clarence 

 clear of the camp. I reproached the caravan that they 

 had not prevented the running away, but no sense 

 could be driven into their stupid heads. Every man 

 feigned complete ignorance. The stolid " me no 

 savey " of the Chinaman is not a whit more obtuse or 

 provoking than the Somali equivalent. They can be 

 as beautifully dense as the most wilfully non-under- 

 standing Chinee. Hammers won't drive a subject in 

 if that subject is, in their opinion, better kept out. 

 They are diplomatic, but maddening. 



Our two camels for the pursuit were loaded up 

 with a small amount of food in case we were out all 

 night, and taking my '500 Express as the best all round 

 rifle, I mounted, not without trepidation, an evil- 

 looking beast, whose driver greeted me with a tolerant 

 and broad smile. Clarence, as to the manner born, 

 put himself on the other animal, and with a waved 

 " Good-bye " to Cecily, who, lucky person, was going 

 after King Leo, we set out. My irritation and annoy- 

 ance at being so signally done kept me up for a short 



