TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 73 
and both our schemes worked admirably, and bar a 
little rheumatism in my left shoulder I carried on all 
right. At last — “ a fine day ; let us go out and kill 
something ” came and, the conditions being splendid 
for spooring, we went off bent on an execution — of 
anything. 
Running in and out among some rocks were the 
quaintest little rabbits, without tails, Manx rabbits, 
odd stumpy greyish bodies, and an engaging air of 
indifference to passers-by. 
A great yellow-beaked hornbill sat on a tree and 
made his own peculiar croaking noise. Most wise he 
looked as he put his grey head to one side and in- 
vestigated us. Yet his looks bewrayed him ; for when 
I threw some dates at him to see if he knew how to 
catch them in his beak, he let them pass him all un- 
heeded. His cousin at the Zoo could teach many 
things. 
After a long ride we left our ponies to be led along 
behind by a syce, and spoored on foot. Clarence and 
the two hunters were still riding. We nearly went off 
our heads with joy and excitement when we suddenly 
came on a neat little path made by lion. The print 
was perfect. The most perfect I have ever seen. The 
soft earth had taken the mould like dough. There 
were the four indents, there the cushions of the pad. 
We knelt down in our eagerness to realise how really 
soaked everything was. The ground was sodden and 
every step oozed water. 
We ran on, Clarence and the hunters keeping pace 
easily with us. There were scrubby bushes all about, 
