GREAT HERDS OF WILD GAME 
63 
dred miles would take me into almost unexplored 
districts in some directions, where the natives would 
greet me as some supernatural being. Perhaps I 
might he greeted as a god and—just in the midst of 
these reflections they began to reel in the balloon. 
The sudden stopping was not pleasant, for then 
the balloon began to sway. Slowly the earth came 
nearer and the wind howled through the rigging 
and the partly filled bag flapped and thundered. 
The wire, about as thick as a piano wire, looked 
frail, but at last after a slow and tedious descent a 
safe landing was made amid the wondering natives. 
Cameras clicked and the moving picture machine 
worked busily as the balloon was secured to earth 
again. 
To Mrs. Akeley of our party fell the next chance 
to go up. As she was lifted into the basket the 
feminine population of Nairobi gazed in wonder 
that a woman should dare venture up in a balloon. 
The cameras clicked some more, somebody shook 
hands with her, and it began to look quite like a 
leave-taking. Just when all was ready the wind 
sprang up savagely and an ascension seemed inex¬ 
pedient. There was a long wait and still the wind 
continued in gusts. At last it was determined that 
we might as well settle down for better conditions, 
so Mrs. Akeley was lifted out and we waited im¬ 
patiently for the wind to die down. 
At last it died down, all was hurriedly prepared 
for the ascension, and Mrs. Akeley took her place 
again in the basket. In an instant the balloon shot 
