81 
My Adventure G*t a Mud-Flat. 
the outgoing tide large numbers are left stranded behind on the flats, 
whence they make long skips to try and reach the waters’ edge now more 
and more receding: it is when they are endeavouring to do this that a 
considerable number of the flying crowd are caught. I have never met 
with the fish in streams beyond the limits of salt water. 
292. Our initial superabundance of fresh meat had however soon to 
give way to appreciable Avant, because our never satisfied love of sport 
•and spoil had made the feathered visitors to the bank so shy that it 
only Avanted someone to show himself outside the tent to scare them 
back to the main. The tribute which they were no longer willing to 
pay carelessly and unstintedly had accordingly to be obtained surrep- 
titiously by guile. As soon as the ebb set in, our boats’ crews hurried 
down to the beach with spades and shovels, to dig trenches where we 
regularly took up our position and whence Ave welcomed Avith a shower 
of shot the hungry guests as they approached. Had it not been for un- 
expected and speedy help it is certain that I could easily have lost my 
life at one of these hunting shelters. 
29d. With one exception, all the genera and species comprising our 
visitors had already given me a contribution for my collection: Avhat I 
still missed Avas the glorious flamingo ( PJioenicopterus ruber) which 
in spite of every trick resorted to, never came within shot. Every recent 
unsuccessful attempt had made me all the more determined not to rest 
until I had succeeded in gaining possession of this obstinate bird also. 
As the boats’ creAvs were mostly busy in other Avays of a morning, it Avas 
generally at this time that I used to slink away by myself to one of the 
trenches, Avhere, often waiting in vain for hours at a time my patience 
Avould finally gh T e way, and another bird have to do penance. And so 
to-day after having lain in ambush for several hours — Avhat Avith the 
flood tide soon getting in and not Avanting to come back empty-handed — 
1 turned my gun on a red ibis which, only being winged, now fluttered 
along the mud out towards the sea. Heedless, yet anxious to secure my 
catch, I hurried after it, but with every step sank deeper into the mire, 
until at last, unable to get forwards or backwards and fatigued with the 
exertion of trying to extricate myself, mv position became still more des- 
perate because it Avas soon before I could no longer use my arms. With 
all my remaining strength I shouted for help, a call that Avas fortunately 
heard and followed as quickly as possible by one of the boat's crew, a 
negro. Directly he recognised my aAvful plight, lie threAV himself flat 
on the mud, and by winding and twisting his body sinuously along he 
edged himself towards me in a curious fashion without supporting him- 
self on his hands save to a very slight extent. Though my OAvn situation 
Avas dangerous enough, my attention and interest Avas so absorbed in this 
well-considered manoeuvre that T thought no more about myself until 
seized by my smart rescuer who, Avith similar twists and contortions, 
dragged me out of the mud-bath. On recognising the cause of my plight 
and spotting the ibis which, fluttering in the meantime still farther out 
to sea, had got stuck in similar fashion, my rescuer, tempted by the del- 
icate morsel, proceeded to fetch it : he threw himself on his stomach as 
nefore, and AA’ith the bird as a roAAard for his trouble, he returned to his 
tent, laughing all the wav, 
