TWO PRETTY GIRLS JOIN US 



85 



another day, as they told us that the people on this side of the 

 mountain had thirty oxen and forty goats which they wished 

 to sell. We felt sure these numbers were exaggerated ; but 

 thought that we should at least get some animals, and that even 

 a few would be most welcome. 



But the oxen and goats resolved themselves into, first, a big 

 tusk which Jumbe Kimemeta got very cheap ; and secondly, 

 two sweet, young mountain maidens who wished to join our 

 caravan, and put themselves under the wing of our native guide, 

 who pledged himself to provide for them out of his own rations. 

 The younger and prettier of these girls was called Donyiro. 



The next two days were devoted to elephant hunting, but 

 only two animals were killed, and those two by the Count. We 

 greatly enjoyed these ^cursions ; they were always accompanied 

 by some thrilling adventures. Sometimes the elephants would 

 allow themselves to be driven like sheep to the slaughter, quite 

 losing their heads and appearing blind and deaf to everything 

 about them ; whilst another time they would display surprising 

 agility and skill in acting on the offensive. It will be remem- 

 bered that the Count brought down his first ten elephants on 

 the Guaso Nyiro with great ease, and without any special con- 

 tretemps. But these days were over ; and in every hunt there 

 were at least some moments of exciting suspense. Whereas 

 with other biff game we o-rew more and more confident in our 

 own skill, with elephants every day's experience made us realise 

 better the dangers we were incurring. Whilst with other 

 big game, such as buffaloes and rhinoceroses, we knew that 

 in case of an attack a shot would at least make them swerve 

 aside, and that even at the worst there would be time to 

 take further measures for our safety, an elephant would think 

 nothing of a bullet from our 8-bore rifle, often seemiDg not 

 even to feel it. 



In the afternoon one of the two natives led us to a place on 



