268 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



tears — how nearly I had been lost to her, and how, at 

 the very worst of things, all unexpectedly, the leader 

 of the Opposition and Ralph had ridden into camp ; 

 that without their help and common sense she could 

 never have pulled me through. 



The wells were now practically in our possession, 

 the old gentleman having waived his claims, but we 

 were, of course, still out on the Haud. Camels had 

 been sent off to Berbera to meet us a little farther on, 

 to return with stores, mainly for the men. The 

 Opposition had provided us with many necessaries, 

 and I was so glad because I did not want to leave the 

 wild any the sooner because of all this wasted time. 



Next afternoon I held quite a Durbar. I sat outside 

 the tent, and most of the men came to make their 

 salaams. Clarence — the good fellow — even got so far as 

 to say, shyly, " Me glad you olri." They all seemed 

 glad to have me all right, and it was nice of them. 



The leader of the Opposition and Ralph came to tea, 

 and we made very merry. The latter pretended to 

 be not on speaking terms with Cecily, because at their 

 last interview she had called him " horrid pig," but 

 I explained that it must be a wild pig, and then it 

 would be a compliment ; he is so much nobler than 

 a tame one, is fleet of foot, and courageous of heart, 

 and sometimes resembles a lion. Where comes the 

 sting of being called after such an animal ? It was 

 delightful to feel we had friends so near, at least just 

 now, when self-reliance was at such a low ebb with 

 me. Old William puts " Honour, love, obedience, 

 troops^of friends " as making up the joys of life. I did 



