TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 83 
her the error of such ways, restoring her to his 
charmed circle again. On the outskirts of both well- 
guarded harems there were many likely looking young 
bucks, who were kept at a respectful distance from 
the does they admired so much by the flying charges 
and battering onslaughts of each boss buck. To say 
their lives were strenuous is to convey nothing. They 
had no time to eat, or rest, or sleep. 
Then, by a hideous mischance the two parties of 
aoul converged, and the strain was at breaking point. 
For the system of all things was disturbed, and worse 
than all, the two old bucks met face to face. Now 
fight they must for the mastery, or be shamed for ever 
in the soft eyes of all their feminine kind. At it they 
went, hammer and tongs, clawing with razor hoofs, 
circling round each other, clashing, crashing. Mean- 
while — but we all know what the mice do when the 
cat’s away ! And this golden moment was the young 
bucks’ opportunity. Every Jack found a Jill, and some 
fortunate ones many Jills, and ran off promptly with 
their loot . Then when the old bucks had fought till they 
were dripping with foam and blood-flecked muzzles, 
the one slightly the stronger would end the fray with 
a terrific drive, and send his vanquished foe bellowing 
back to — nothing. The harem had all eloped. 
One might lie and watch a herd of aoul for hours, 
really in full view, and not cause them any great 
anxiety. We never talked save in whispers, and it was 
really amazing to see how very indifferent the creatures 
grew to our presence. If they did take it into their 
heads to feign alarm, remaining quite still seemed to 
