XII 
LAKE RUDOLPH 
2$7 
his attention was taken up watching the distant caravan, which 
I had allowed to go on. When I fired he galloped off, and I 
lost sight of him behind bushes ; but I had heard the bullet 
strike and seen, by his tail-on-end race away, that he was hard 
hit, so followed, though I could see no blood on his spoor. 
On rounding a clump of “ suaki,” behind which he had dis¬ 
appeared, to my joy I saw him lying dead close by. I piped 
my signal on my empty cartridge-case (which I always carry 
in my pocket as the most convenient call) with a thankful 
heart, and felt as pleased as the men seemed when they came up. 
I had him cut up and divided on the spot and then went on. 
We soon reached the first kraals, and camped close by under 
shady thorn-trees. The natives were friendly, but not trouble¬ 
some—as Africans too often become when their friendliness is 
too demonstrative. They had a good many goats and a decent 
little troop of cattle, besides a number of donkeys. I had an 
extra ration of meal served out to the caravan as a treat, to 
celebrate our safe arrival in Reshiat. The leading porters 
thanked me for having brought them all safely through—their 
manner of offering congratulations. Nice of them, this, I 
thought. Every one seemed in good spirits, and I myself had 
quite recovered my cheerfulness. 
