TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 269 



not want troops, but after the jungle world, two did 

 make my joy just then. I have to say the jungle 

 first, because it still stood first, and I longed to be out 

 again, not in it, and yet not of it. " He who has 

 heard the voice of Nature in her wildest places, who 

 has felt the mystery of her loveliness, the glamour of 

 her nameless airs and graces, is one who has eaten of 

 the bread of Faery, and drunken of the wine of 

 dreams." 



And the next day they propounded a scheme to me — 

 these three arch-plotters — we would all join forces, 

 and wind up the shoots together. But I had so many 

 objections, one being the remembrance of the remark 

 at Aden about our wishing to cling on. The leader, 

 with deep sophistry, said that was more than atoned 

 for, and wiped out by the humiliating fact — to them — 

 that our trip was much the most successful, not only 

 in the actual results, but in the peace and quiet of the 

 caravan. In theirs chaos had reigned from the very 

 outset. The head-man had levanted early on, taking 

 with him the two best camels and no end of loot, far 

 worse calamity than a butler ! Not a thing had been 

 done willingly, only under compulsion, and grumbling 

 was the order of every day. 



I wondered if the extra large sum of money promised 

 to each man of our caravan at the end of the trip, 

 provided his conduct pleased us — quite my own idea — 

 had kept things straight. Was it bribery and corrup- 

 tion ? If so, in our case, at least, the end justified 

 the means. 



As for our trophies, we of the rival expedition had 



