TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 99 
I was by this time aching all over, and there was 
nothing to do but make provision for as comfortable a 
night as might be. We collected what spare blankets 
we could, and lay down near one of the fires. Though 
so weary I could not sleep, and the camp was never 
silent for a moment. The fires were kept high, and shots 
fired at intervals to guide the wandering camel-men. 
The men lay about or sat about the watch-fires, and 
in the middle of the night two of them began to fight. 
In the lurid light the scene was sufficiently realistic 
to be unpleasant. They began with loud words, pro- 
gressed to blows, and then advanced to spears. 
Thinking that rifles would probably be the next 
resource, I got up and called on the men to desist. 
They took no more notice of me, naturally, than if I 
had never spoken. And as the now thoroughly 
awakened camp appeared to be going to take sides in 
the business, I got my “ express ” and shrieked out 
loudly that I then and there meant to make an end of 
both the combatants. Although they were not sup- 
posed to understand English, they translated enough 
from my resolute manner and threatening gestures to 
know that I would put up with no nonsense. They 
ceased the combat as suddenly as they began it, but 
not before camel-man No. 1 had jabbed camel-man 
No. 2 in the fleshy part of his thigh. 
I told Clarence to hold No. 1 in durance vile whilst 
No. 2 had to be attended to with as much care as if 
we really sympathised with him. All my desire was to 
be able to shoot both of them on sight. I was so tired 
I could hardly see, and too aching to do more than 
