WAITING 
293 
again, remounted and started along the path, I 
felt quite warm and dry before long, at least on 
the left side where the sunshine pelted down. I 
did not hurry the horse but let him walk along 
slowly until, by the time I came up with the others, 
I looked dry enough on my port side. 
The major heard me laughing as I came near 
them and wondered quite naturally what was the 
matter with me to be so uncontrollably mirthful, 
but I kept my right side carefully turned away from 
them and they were none the wiser. Again and 
again, as we rode along, I would go off into a fit 
of laughter until finally, when we dismounted at 
the house of one of the men who looked after the 
ditch-line, I took pity on their curiosity and told 
them what had happened to me. 
It was now about midnight and the sun had just 
set behind the mountain peaks so Mr. Linderberg 
said that we would do a little trout-fishing. We 
started out and I was eager to see what luck we 
should have but in a very short time I completely 
lost interest in the sport, the mosquitoes were 
swarming about us in such clouds. They were 
large, well-built and utterly unterrified by any 
word or act on my part, though I am not conscious 
of omitting any, and the Recording Angel was busy 
for a short time. It was only for a short time, 
however, for, though my companions were appar- 
