Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

filled with the staccato notes of our
violent mirth.
Over a network Of lion tracks we
crossed the bed Of the river to reach
camp.
AS we sat down at dinner an elephant
trumpeted at the water hole q quarter
Of mile away. Africa is rich In noe
turnal cries, but no sound uttered by
/ flesh and blood contains quite the same
note OF challenge as the trumpeting Of
an elephant in its own natural sur
roundings, especially when an equatorial
full moon has turned the world to sill
yer, yet left 1t here and there filled with
pools of deep tenebral shadows.
Within two minutes we were creeping
across the moonlit sands with the four
shikariS. Lake and were dressed with
out affectation In fraZzled pajamas and
mosquito boots. What the others wore
escapes me at the moment. but 1t was
something informal. Yet, as things go
on the Equator. our costumes were be-
yond reproach. Any one with a sar-
torial complex may feel easy in the Dark
Continent as long as he can muster a
stout pair of pajamas.
We made across the river bed for q
small islet covered with bush, just the
ether side of which lay the water hole,
so located that it was invisible from
camp. We reached the inky shadow
cast by its high bank, to be swallowed
up In Its funereal gloom. Slowly we
crept along this tunnel of darkness.
Terrific splashingS and submarine up
heavals were waking the echoes couple
OF hundred Yards away. We reached
the end Of the islet. Two steps more
and We would stand on the edge of the
water hole face to face with the largest
African animal.
Suddenly the sounds ceased. The ST.
lence Of death fell over our small world.
Even the roaring Of the lions was stilled
shadow we crouched under the bank
awaiting eventualities; four Arabs and
two white men. Far down the river
small night animals went sinking over
the sands in the brilliant moonlight
Still deathlike silencei It seemed as
though hours were passing. A swarm
Of gnats gathered about us. We EVIL
IDENTIFY filled long-felt want, for they
sent out gnat messengers and rallied a
couple Of million more. The strain be-
came almost uncomfortable.
1t began to grow late. We couldn't
crouch there all night In a nocturnal
vigil. Maybe there was nothing there
at all! AT length we decided to leave
the security OF our shadow and face
reality.
Noiselessly we covered so feet of gilt
tering white sand. The pool lay before
us-empty. Now 1t was our turn to be
surprised. Unless we were all In the
clutches Of delirium, something was
certainly lurking nearby-but where?
The river bank stood far above our
heads in the dense shadow of q patch
OF trees. Suddenly, from q few feet
away, the stiffness of the night was
again shattered by the vibrant trumpet
ing of an elephant.
Somebody showed gun into my
hands. The next thing my startled
eyes beheld five men in headlong flight
over the sand toward our patch of
shadow. 1t was ludicrous. They were
giggling shrilly and tumbling head over
heels, tripped by the clinging sand.
Now, there was mighty stirring on
the bank above my head. A couple of
good-sized trees crashed to the ground
violently. Without even taking q Sec
ond look, dropped the gun and fol-
lowed my confreres. Before reaching the
benevolent gloom Of the shadow, my
plete somersaults, yet took no satisfac-
ton in the accomplishment Of an aero
batic feat totally beyond my powers
under ordinary circumstances.
X X X X
THE elephants were In panicky flight
= from the sounds, as though an
adolescent tornado was passing through
our little forest. Trees were falling
right and left; there were splintering
crashes and booming reports, where
trunk was snapped clean OF. The
sounds of devastation grew fainter, to
be finally swallowed up by distance.
Once more silence settled down over the
pool. Then, short distance away, a
lion reared. From far of, in the direc-
ton of the Ras Amer, another hurled
back rumbling retort.
Half an hour later we struggled into
camp.
But we were aroused to sense of
reality when at length we reached Ro-
saries, the big town of the border. There
were barracks, the governors house,
school, church, native hospital, several
streets and large market square And
there Lake came down with dysentery.
I arranged for motor to take him back
to Khartum, mounted my detected
donkey and headed north with my IL
Arabs.
At Deisa, q sheik met me.
There were elephants about, he said.
He would show me that afternoon.
So after tea we Jared forth, the sheik
and men of Deisa, In an impressive cav
alcade. Our objective proved to be some
large swaInpy pools, surrounded by
forest and connected with the river by
an estuary.
We sat fascinated and watched the
surging life. Water fowl swarmed in
countless multitudes; the movements Of
ducks and geese at times darkened the