chap, xxvii. A DAY AMONGST THE GNUS. 
265 
into any number of rooms, according to its length. 
For the sake of light and air a small window is 
generally made in each room. 
Mine host had erected one of these huts, and un¬ 
fortunately I was told off to occupy the far-end room. 
Hence I had to pass through his own bedroom and 
the one occupied by his grown-up daughters; thus there 
was no escape for me after once going to bed. I had 
been sleeping in the open ‘veldt’ for some days previously, 
and my present bed looked so luxurious in comparison 
that I was not long before putting the light out, intend¬ 
ing to enjoy a good sleep. But alas! how vain is man’s 
desire ! Before I could steep the senses in forgetfulness 
I began to feel myriads of creeping things crawling 
over me—not light infantry, but heavy monsters. It 
was something terrible. ‘ Lucifer-matches ’ were not 
invented in those days, and the light being out, I had 
no alternative but to get out of bed and try to sleep 
on the floor, with my cloak around me. That situation 
was, however, worse than the other. I next tried to 
get out of the window, but after getting my head and 
part of my body through I 6 stuck fast,’ and with some 
difficulty got back into the hut, and had to remain in 
torture until daylight, when I was enabled to pass 
through the young ladies’ room out of the house. 
My horse had been well cared for; and after partak¬ 
ing of a cup of coffee, with some 6 biltong ’ and biscuit, 
