Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03

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ment far out somewhere in the forest the tall
grass the big tuskers love will be the likely
place to look for it.
Sleeping in Buffalo Beds
A BOUT three hours out, Arab Tumo and Arab
ing through the grass like scared impaa lost to
sight after half dozen jumps. Any movement of
the herd from its position of the day before must be
noted and then it was not at all improbable that the
elephant might have crossed the crest of the Cabanoas
and be in immediate front. Then complete ST.
lence required of the little close moving column,
and on moved quietly could, climbing.
climbing slowly, for though the slope was low
it was still enough to keep ones bellows busy.
At length. after eight hours marching. during
which we had covered no more than a scant ten
miles, ourselves worn to frazzle, Mataia camped
in thicket beside tiny brook we'll up toward the
top of the Cabanoas beside brook so newly born in
the bush just above that it had not yet found
voice. its water clear crystal and cold as ice.
Down to and the brook we had followed
deep-worn buffalo path full OF sign made that morn
buffalo dormitory, where by long they had
out wide smooth-hoored chambers dimly lighted at
midday by few of the curious rays that
contrved to peep through the thick-roofed jungle.
To tell the truth, had been less tired it is more
than likely should have tried to seek lodgings
conducive to sound uninterrupted sleep-where less
likely. trespasser, to have dispossess notice
poked at in the form of pair of fortynch buffalo
horns. But, really, there " nowhere to 60 but
out" out into the pet lodgings of one sort
other of the Big Fellows; about we'll
off there anywhere.
Not until nightfall did our scouts return-wth
word that the main herd had not moved from it's
previous days range along the Samb: but that four
big fellows probably the big bull scouts of the herd
halfway up the farther hillsope headed toward
a pass whose trails led brook few yards
above u.s. apparently the lead of trek of the lot back
to the Rongana salt springs they long leave.
NIGHT of Peril
TT was deuce of pickle in, regular Gull
de-sac, camped as we were, virtually athwart the
main elephant highway between the Samb and their
dearly loved salt springs-any move in darkness of
our camp and its slender equipment utterly impos-
sible without the probability of neck breaking eye
binding, and moon till morning.
But there were, and there we had to stay.
Chill, almost bitter, though the night was.
but the tniest twg fires permitted. just
enough to fry meat and to boil our coffee and the
mems posho-heaped snt1rfds.
Absolute silence among the noisy porters
easily obtained by placing among them Lumbwa
elporau with orders to smash with his rungn knob
kerrie) the first noisy mouth-orders he would have
been delighted to execute on the first offender.
Then dead tagged from the tough day, and hav
ing arranged night watch of the camp, with orders
to rouse us quickly at the first sound of elephant
buffalo. rhno, Jordan and turned in, and-never
opened an eye till called by Salem at dawn, the
buffalo having obviously lodged elsewhere the
tuskers stopped somewhere route.
Before sun-up, Arab Tumo and Arab Barta were
off ahead of Shortly thereafter, coffee and
snack gobbled down. Jordan and | followed. The
wind barring from the pass. were forced to
climb strag ht for the summit. two miles west of the
pass; smooth enough climb for large there
abouts had recently been burned, but so steep it
made tough, slow going.
we war a hnnS ref feet han he