LAKE RUDOLPH 287 



his attention was taken up watching the distant caravan, which 

 I had allowed to go on. When I fired he galloped off, and I 

 lost sight of him behind bushes ; but I had heard the bullet 

 strike and seen, by his tail-on-end race away, that he was hard 

 hit, so followed, though I could see no blood on his spoor. 

 On rounding a clump of " suaki," behind which he had dis- 

 appeared, to my joy I saw him lying dead close by. I piped 

 my signal on my empty cartridge-case (which I always carry 

 in my pocket as the most convenient call) with a thankful 

 heart, and felt as pleased as the men seemed when they came up. 

 I had him cut up and divided on the spot and then went on. 



We soon reached the first kraals, and camped close by under 

 shady thorn-trees. The natives were friendly, but not trouble- 

 some — as Africans too often become when their friendliness is 

 too demonstrative. They had a good many goats and a decent 

 little troop of cattle, besides a number of donkeys. I had an 

 extra ration of meal served out to the caravan as a treat, to 

 celebrate our safe arrival in Reshiat. The leading porters 

 thanked me for having brought them all safely through — their 

 manner of offering congratulations. Nice of them, this, I 

 thought. Every one seemed in good spirits, and I myself had 

 quite recovered my cheerfulness. 



