94 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
anything. And at last we all, even the Somali who 
brought us the news of the distant game, and who 
seemed to like us very much, for we never got rid of 
him again, lent a hand, and began to unload the 
laden camels, carrying the goods to terra-firma some 
sixty yards away. 
The moment the camels considered their loads 
lightened they condescended to heave themselves up 
a little. After loading up again we proceeded but a 
little way, indeed but a few hundred yards, when the 
whole thing repeated itself. The camels were em- 
bedded once more. Cecily and I decided to go on 
and leave them all to it, and try and get any sport that 
might be had, ordering the men to release the camels 
from this new quagmire of theirs, and afterwards to 
form zareba close to the place. I was really glad to 
ride away from the whole thing, confusion and every- 
thing. The disorganised, unsettled feeling I got re- 
minded me of that which comes to one at home during 
the annual upheaval known as the spring-cleaning. 
The green grass was springing up with the recent 
rains, and our little ponies made light of the muddy 
going. The spoor of all sorts of game was everywhere 
apparent, and we were most interested to see traces of 
ostrich, although we did not that day come across any, 
indeed they are rather difficult creatures to see. 
We separated, as was our wont, Cecily taking 
Clarence, and I the Baron, whom we had now, in 
spite of his romancing propensities, promoted to 
second in command. He had great acumen when he 
chose to display it, and was no sort of a coward. But 
