Weichu. 
205 
of the very name. Yes, there we were, uncomfortable 
enough I must confess ; but far, very far from being 
unhappy. We were in God's hands. 
We were anxious to ascertain the time, but it was„ 
too dark to make out the face of a watch. Opening 
it, however, I felt for the fingers, and found the hour 
to be, as near as possible, 3.25 a.m. At the very 
least then we must wait two hours for dawn. We 
were wishful to make up a fire, but the matches 
could not be found. No one present had with him 
the native apparatus, and we were about to give up 
the idea altogether. But necessity is the mother of 
invention. The men were able to create a spark, and 
for tinder they used gunpowder. A fire was soon 
blazing, but surrounded by one of the most wretched- 
looking companies ever beheld. The Gallas were a 
little afraid that the smoke and glare might prove a 
guide to the enemy, but as the Masai are said to be 
mortally afraid of deep water, they did not strongly 
object to the fire. It was most acceptable to us, first, 
because we were cold ; and secondly, because it kept 
the mosquitos off. 
We were not alarmed, but the two hours we waited 
seemed exceedingly long and tedious. We talk and 
sing of the fleetness of time, but it is wonderful what 
duration there may be, under certain circumstances, in 
two simple hours. I sat with my face eastward, watch- 
ing for signs of opening day, with feelings of uncommon 
interest. A star rose with exceeding brightness and 
beauty. ''That is the morning star/' said several of the 
men, " the dawn is near." Not so near, however, as was 
imagined. At length the eastern horizon began to 
pale ; stars disappeared one by one; finally the mighty 
