ROOSEVELT^S EXPERIENCE IN THE JUNGLE. 151 
in height to five and six feet. The springbok is one of the largest 
species, and it is known to make vertical jumps in the air with its 
legs folded. 
Considerable anxiety was felt because smallpox was prevalent 
at Nairobi, and two cases developed among the porters at Kapiti. 
These were cjuarantined and the strictest precautions observed to 
prevent a spread of the disease among those attached to the Roose¬ 
velt party. The danger of this was at first considered slight, but 
later several of the bearers were attacked. 
Pleased with even the small measure of success of their expC' 
dition on the plains, the Ex-President and his party the next day 
broke camp and continued their journey to the ranch of Sir Alfred 
Pease, on the Athi river. 
The rain was falling heavily when they arrived, this giving 
fine promise of good sport. As the torrential downpour continued, 
the party spent the next day indoors resting from the fatigue 
inseparable from the first hunting trip. Seasoned sportsman though 
he was, the former President had not yet gotten hardened as he 
was destined to get within the next few weeks. 
FATHER AND SON HUNT TOGETHER. 
The next day Col. Roosevelt and his son Kermit had sufficiently 
recovered from the fatigue connected with their first shooting trips 
and their journey from Kapiti Plains station to the ranch of Sir 
Alfred Pease, on the Athi river, to go out shooting for small game. 
They were successful in bringing down a Grant’s gazelle and a 
hartebeest. 
The Ex-President was especially pleased by his success in bag¬ 
ging the Grant’s gazelle, which he had failed to secure on the first 
expedition. 
Now they were in the very heart of the game country, where 
‘^small game” especially was very plentiful and all were correspond¬ 
ingly elated. Col. Roosevelt and Kermit were fully recovered from 
their indisposition, and the Colonel was astir early, anxious to get 
a shot at something and complete preparations for pushing on. 
Both Coring and Heller, however, were showing the strain of pre 
