298 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
much-needed rest, and looking back one wondered 
however we had made the journey down so success- 
fully. The camels seemed none the worse, but one 
pony, my erstwhile steed “ Sceptre,” had gone very 
lame. We were now in big timber country, and for 
the first time for an age saw water running, and not 
stagnant. We took off our boots and stockings, and 
went in at once, only sorry that propriety would not 
allow a total eclipse. We could not leave that 
blessed brook ; I really cannot dignify it by the 
name of river. 
Camp was formed here, but a zareba was no longer 
a necessity. All that day we drowsed away the hours, 
wandering about among the trees and chasing butter- 
flies. It was quite an idyllic day. 
Next morning we left camp, thoroughly fresh and 
game for a big tramp. We took our way up a rocky 
gorge that led us towards the Marmitime. The 
scenery everywhere was still of the most exquisite 
description, vastly different to the sun-dried plains 
we had traversed so short a time ago. Walking was 
not easy, and we made a great clatter of stones as we 
passed along. Our noise startled a small creature we 
had not noticed before, so much the colour of the 
ground was he. He sprang from rock to rock with 
surprising agility, and poised for a moment ere he took 
off again like some light- winged bird. We excitedly 
started in pursuit, and I was almost certain we should 
lose him. Cecily vowed she must risk it, and I did 
not think it mattered very much anyway. The 
gazelle seemed to me lost. 
