TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 183 
the pony and called to Clarence to try and round up 
the flying creatures from behind a clump of mimosa 
and shoot one himself if he could. Of course they 
passed the place sailing ere ever he reached it. As we 
galloped along our rush disturbed another band of 
aoul at close quarters, and in sheer desperation I 
checked my pony so suddenly that he sat down. I 
flung myself into a semblance of a position, and fired 
at the vanishing quarters of a fine-looking buck. He 
staggered and kicked out, but caught up again with 
his fellows, and they all disappeared in a cloud of 
dust. Mounting again, we dashed after them, and 
after a hard gallop came on the wounded animal going 
slower and far separated from the others. I dared not 
try a shot from the saddle, as the going was so bad ; 
and if there is one thing I object to it is a cocked rifle 
at a gallop over ant-bear holes. 
The aoul put on a spurt and my pony began to 
show signs of stress, and blundering terribly let me 
down suddenly over a large-sized hole. Much shaken, 
I gathered up my scattered wits and called to Clarence 
to ride the buck down. It was certainly wounded, 
and, I judged, badly so. To return to the famishing, 
reproachful camp without meat was unthinkable, as 
we had done it so often lately. I sat where I was 
tossed and meditated until I felt a burning sensation 
on my finger, sharp and stinging, and found it to be a 
scorpion of sorts. He paid toll for such a liberty, and 
the butt of my rifle finished him. I immediately 
sucked the stung finger perseveringly. What an odd 
thing it is— -or seems odd to me, being unlearned — 
