4IO THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT chap, ix 



a sound more resembling a laugh than anything else ; 

 but it is far from mirthful. 



While returning from the hippopotamus hunt to 

 Daitcho, I lost my little fox-terrier, Felix. The day 

 was hot, and we were marching briskly along the 

 banks of the Ura River. Fearing he would one day 

 be caught by a crocodile, I was always careful to keep 

 my eye upon him when near a stream ; but on this 

 occasion, overcome by heat and thirst, he paid no heed 

 to my voice, but dashed on ahead, until he reached a 

 small game path leading to the river. An almost 

 human cry, a loud splash, and Felix — there was no 

 more Felix. The crocodile was probably lying in wait 

 at the foot of the game path, hoping to catch some 

 unwary antelope that should come down to quench 

 its thirst, and Felix had unwittingly rushed into its 

 jaws. 



Nearly every day of my stay at Daitcho I gave the 

 men rifle practice, and in a short time, with the excep- 

 tion of one or two, they became excellent rifle shots at 

 distances ranging from loo to 200 yards. As they 

 became adept in the use of their weapons, their char- 

 acters appeared to undergo change, their bearing be- 

 came more martial, and they seemed to be imbued 

 with fresh spirit 



One day I received a message from Bykender, that 

 the natives of his village were about to hold a dance, 

 and he wished me to come and see it; my presence 

 would not only please the natives, but would enhance 

 his influence over them. The dance was held at a 

 spot about thirty minutes' walk from my camp. The 

 pleasant sound of male voices in song guided me to a 



