156 
PARTY DEAD-BEAT. 
[chap. IV. 
part was serious to the march—every time that they 
lay clown they shifted their loads; some of the most 
wilful persisted in rolling, and of course upset their 
packs. There were only seventeen men, and these 
were engaged in assisting the camels; thus the twenty- 
one donkeys had it all their own way; and what added 
to the confusion was the sudden cry of hyenas in close 
proximity, which so frightened the donkeys that they 
immediately sprang to their feet, with their packs 
lying discomfited, entangled among their legs. Thus, 
no sooner were the camels re-loaded on the other side 
of the ravine, than all the donkeys had to undergo the 
same operation ;—during which time the camels, how¬ 
ever stupid, having observed the donkeys’ “ dodge,” 
took the opportunity of lying down also, and neces¬ 
sarily shifted their loads. The women were therefore 
ordered to hold the camels, to prevent them from lying 
down while the donkeys were being re-loaded; but 
the women were dead tired, as they had been carrying 
loads; they themselves laid down, and it being dark, 
they were not observed until a tremendous scream w r as 
heard, and we found that a camel had lain down on 
the top or A woman who had been placed to watch it, 
but who had herself fallen asleep. The camel was with 
difficulty raised, and the woman dragged from beneath. 
Everything was tired out. I had been working like a 
