254 AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 
then we turned in under our blankets for another night’s 
sleep. 
Next morning some of the ’Ndorobo went off on the trail 
of Cuninghame’s elephant to see if it had fallen, but found 
that it had travelled steadily, though its wounds were 
probably mortal. There was no object in my staying, for 
Heller and Cuninghame would be busy for the next ten 
days, and would ultimately have to use all the porters in 
taking off and curing the skin, and transporting it to Neri; 
so I made up my mind to go down to the plains for a hunt 
by myself. Taking one porter to carry my bedding, and 
with my gun-bearers, and a Dorobo as guide, I struck off 
through the forest for the main camp, reaching it early in 
the afternoon. Thence I bundled off a safari to Cuning¬ 
hame and Heller, with food for a week, and tents and 
clothing; and then enjoyed the luxury of a shave and a warm 
bath. Next day was spent in writing and making prepara¬ 
tions for my own trip. A Kikuyu chief, clad in a cloak of 
hyrax skins, and carrying his war spear, came to congratu¬ 
late me on killing the elephant and to present me with a 
sheep. Early the following morning everything was in 
readiness; the bull-necked porters lifted their loads, I 
stepped out in front, followed by my led horse, and in ten 
hours’ march we reached Neri boma, with its neat buildings, 
its trees, and its well-kept flower beds. 
My hunting and travelling during the following fort¬ 
night will be told in the next chapter. On the evening 
of September 6th we were all together again at Meru 
boma, on the north-eastern slopes of Kenia—-Kermit, Tarl- 
ton, Cuninghame, Heller, and I. Thanks to the unfailing 
kindness of the Commissioner, Mr. Horne, we were given 
