TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 267 
struck at me with his spear. It would have fallen 
heavily upon me had not Clarence seen the danger and 
parried it on his rifle. This annoyed me frightfully. 
I tendered the amount we considered the water worth, 
and tapped my rifle significantly. The Somalis fell 
back, and congregated at a little distance, one of their 
number presently advancing to ask for backsheesh. 
The battle was over. 
That night my arm was in a parlous state, swollen 
and inflamed, and the pain well-nigh overwhelmed 
me. I was in a high fever, and to proceed with the 
journey was impossible. Cecily’s kindness during the 
awful days that followed was wonderful, and her 
patience inexhaustible. In truth, I cannot tell how 
much trouble I must have caused her, for things were 
not always clear to me, and time seemed nothing. 
One night I wakened from this world o’ dreams, and 
the tent flap being open I saw the scene around me like 
a clear-limned etching. A glorious moon lit up the 
camp. Cecily stood just outside, and by her side — 
who was it ? I racked my muddled brains. Why, of 
course, the leader of the Opposition. I sank back 
again, convinced I was dreaming. By my side, on an 
upturned packing case, lay a bunch of flowers. In 
the dim light they looked like English roses. They 
were dream flowers, I suspect, but they seemed to me 
most sweet. I pondered about them for an age. Was 
it the marvellous Marconi ? Or did Mercury bring 
them ? I cared not, so they came. 
Next morning I wakened to sense again, and Cecily 
was beside me and told me — her dear eyes filled with 
