TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 269 
not want troops, but after the jungle world, two did 
make my joy just then. I have to say the jungle 
first, because it still stood first, and I longed to be out 
again, not in it, and yet not of it. “ He who has 
heard the voice of Nature in her wildest places, who 
has felt the mystery of her loveliness, the glamour of 
her nameless airs and graces, is one who has eaten of 
the bread of Faery, and drunken of the wine of 
dreams.” 
And the next day they propounded a scheme to me — 
these three arch-plotters — we would all join forces, 
and wind up the shoots together. But I had so many 
objections, one being the remembrance of the remark 
at Aden about our wishing to cling on. The leader, 
with deep sophistry, said that was more than atoned 
for, and wiped out by the humiliating fact — to them — 
that our trip was much the most successful, not only 
in the actual results, but in the peace and quiet of the 
caravan. In theirs chaos had reigned from the very 
outset. The head-man had levanted early on, taking 
with him the two best camels and no end of loot, far 
worse calamity than a butler ! Not a thing had been 
done willingly, only under compulsion, and grumbling 
was the order of every day. 
I wondered if the extra large sum of money promised 
to each man of our caravan at the end of the trip, 
provided his conduct pleased us — quite my own idea — 
had kept things straight. Was it bribery and corrup- 
tion ? If so, in our case, at least, the end justified 
the means. 
As for our trophies, we of the rival expedition had 
