258 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



two cubs. She was off almost before I realised the 

 marvel of the thing. Clarence dashed up, his quick 

 eye had taken in the scene. He handed me my rifle. 

 I frowned at him. Surely he had learned by this time 

 that even a woman can be sporting. For it was not 

 only discretion that made me play the better part, nor 

 the thought of the panic a fracas with a lioness would 

 cause in the caravan. I would have loved to take a 

 cub home. But — there was a big but. Nobody short 

 of a sportsman who "browns" a herd of buck indis- 

 criminately — oh yes, there are such men here and 

 there ! — would destroy such a family. They departed 

 in peace, and not in pieces. I spoored a little way, 

 and in clear sandy ground came on the tiny pugs, now 

 quiescent, now running and claw marks showing. 



Next we came on rhino spoor, but in spite of what 

 I had said Cecily halted the caravan, whilst she, in 

 the very hottest part of the day, did a stalk. It all 

 came to nothing, thanks be. I fell asleep on a herio, 

 and awakened to find my tent over me. The men had 

 erected it to screen me from the sun. They were 

 servants in a thousand. 



From this thick jungle we emerged on to a great open 

 plain, or " bun," and Clarence told me it was called 

 the Dumberelli. He often told us the names of places 

 we came to, and sometimes I wondered why they 

 should be christened at all. The " bun " was a waving 

 sea of bright green grass, and full of game. Aoul in 

 regiments sought the new grass, an oryx or two, and 

 " Sig " (Swayne's gazelle), looking like well kept 

 sea-side donkeys, stood about in ones and twos. But 



