CHAPTER XXI 



END OF THE GREAT SHIKAR 



Approved warriors, and my faithful friends 



Titus Andronicus 

 Then must I count my gains 



Richard III 

 And so I take my leave 



Midsummer Night's Dream 



At last Berbera in the distance. At last the one 

 remaining night in our tent— over. At last the final 

 breakfast in the open— over. Then the outskirts of 

 the town, and then Berbera itself. 



The leader of the Opposition and Ralph met us 

 almost at once, looking quite respectable and clean. 

 They said they had been waiting right there for two 

 days for fear we should come unwelcomed. We put 

 up at the old familiar rest-house in the European 

 Square, and our camels and impedimenta generally 

 camped in front of us. Our first dinner in " civilisa 

 tion " did not please us half as much as the culinary 

 efforts of Cecily's chef. Roast chicken with flies is not, 

 after all, so appetising as badly cooked oryx, served 

 up with hunger sauce, and at least, in the jungle, we 

 escaped that last resource of the average cook when 

 she can't think up a pudding — stewed rhubarb. I 

 wonder if there is a country where the weed can be 



