TWO DIANAS IN SOMALI LAND 183 



the pony, and called to Clarence to try and round up 

 the flying creatures from behind a clump of mimosa 

 and shoot one himself if he could. Of course they 

 passed the place sailing ere ever he reached it. As we 

 galloped along our rush disturbed another band of 

 aoul at close quarters, and in sheer desperation I 

 checked my pony so suddenly that he sat down. I 

 flung myself into a semblance of a position, and fired 

 at the vanishing quarters of a fine-looking buck. He 

 staggered and kicked out, but caught up again with 

 his fellows, and they all disappeared in a cloud of 

 dust. Mounting again, we dashed after them, and 

 after a hard gallop came on the wounded animal going 

 slower and far separated from the others. I dared not 

 try a shot from the saddle, as the going was so bad ; 

 and if there is one thing I object to it is a cocked rifle 

 at a gallop over ant-bear holes. 



The aoul put on a spurt and my pony began to 

 show signs of stress, and blundering terribly let me 

 down suddenly over a large-sized hole. Much shaken, 

 I gathered up my scattered wits and called to Clarence 

 to ride the buck down. It was certainly wounded, 

 and, I judged, badly so. To return to the famishing, 

 reproachful camp without meat was unthinkable, as 

 we had done it so often lately. I sat where I was 

 tossed and meditated until I felt a burning sensation 

 on my finger, sharp and stinging, and found it to be a 

 scorpion of sorts. He paid toll for such a liberty, and 

 the butt of my rifle finished him. I immediately 

 sucked the stung finger perseveringly. What an odd 

 thing it is — or seems odd to me, being unlearned — 



