r 
Weichu, 
20I 
dripping perspiration from our brows ; but despite all 
our endeavours we were conquered by our foes. There 
we lay exhausted by our efforts, teased, pierced, and 
drained of our very blood, by an enemy whom the 
breath of our nostrils ought to have carried far away. 
We ought to have slept in spite of them ; for we 
had had little sleep enough of late, yet we tried to 
compose ourselves in vain ! 
Finding it impossible to sleep within the hut we 
came outside. Some of the men had got up a 
blazing fire, and invited us into their midst, each man 
prepared to give up his own place to us. This was 
more respectful than they usually were, but trouble 
often makes crooked things straight. The men 
being plagued themselves felt for us. As they some- 
times said, " How should Wazungu with their soft, 
white skin bear hardship as we do !" We found mos- 
quitos less numerous about the huge fire than inside 
the hut, so, ordering our rugs to be spread, we lay 
down beside it. The stars shone brightly in the 
heavens, yet it was very dark. The tantalizing buzz 
of mosquitos was distinctly heard ; millions of other 
insects were creaking out their discords from among 
the grass ; frogs sent up their varying but dismal 
croaks from their muddy pools ; from the distance 
came the clear sharp bark of the zebra ; while the 
hyena snuffled, coughed, and howled in our very ears, 
I rose several times to drive these latter off, but I had 
no sooner laid down than they came again, sniffing 
and howling as before. 
So the hours passed by drearily. At length I fell 
into a half dose. The next thing I remember was rising 
upon my elbow, rubbing my eyes, looking across the 
