236 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
the graceful creature sailed away, the baby trotting 
beside. My eyes were full of tears, and I had a lump 
in my throat. ’Twas pitiful, 5 twas wondrous pitiful. 
To think that in all the jungle a mother could find 
her way to the lost best beloved with nothing to guide 
her, nothing to tell her. Clarence took it all most 
naturally, and said all female things are like that. I 
do almost believe him ! 
* * * * * 
The sun sailed high in a sky of molten brass, the 
hot sand blistered the palm set down on it, not a 
breath of air was stirring. And I, foolish wight, was 
stalking, on hands and knees, a hartebeest. A family 
of ants had crawled up my sleeve. I went too near 
their palace, I suppose, and they mistook the way. 
A yellow snake, small, wicked-looking, and alert, lay 
right in my path. Not for a hundred hartebeest would 
I disturb him ! I made a great detour, to the wonder- 
ment of Clarence, who trailed along in my wake. When 
he saw he wondered no longer. He has learned now, 
and thinks snakes are a sort of mania of mine, and 
that I must be humoured. Great bluebottle flies 
jumped up in our faces from the red-hot sand, then — 
buzz — and down again. Oh, for some shade — some 
air — some water ! There was my hartebeest again, 
with well-groomed coat and flicking tail. The flies 
were a worry to him too. Now he gets beyond a 
bunch of aoul — his sentinels. I shall never get within 
range. I lay my rifle down, myself with it. I can’t 
