ace where even a nail
could be purchased, into a busy railway centre. Roads and bridges had
to be constructed, houses and work-shops built, turntables and station
quarters erected, a water supply laid on, and a hundred and one other
things done which go to the making of a railway township. Wonderfully
soon, however, the nucleus of the present town began to take shape, and
a thriving "bazaar" sprang into existence with a mushroom-like growth.
In this, however, a case or two of plague broke out before very long,
so I gave the natives and Indians who inhabited it an hour's notice to
clear out, and on my own responsibility promptly burned the whole place
to the ground. For this somewhat arbitrary proceeding I was mildly
called over the coals, as I expected; but all the same it effectually
stamped out the plague, which did not reappear during the time I was in
the country.

With a little persuasion I managed to induce several hundred of the Wa
Kikuyu, in whose country we now were, to come and work at Nairobi, and
very useful and capable they proved themselves after a little training.
They frequently brought me in word that the shambas (plantations,
gardens) at the back of the hill on which my camp was pitched were
being destroyed by elephants, but unfortunately I could never spare
time to go out in quest of them. On one occasion, however, I passed the
news on to my friend, Dr. Winston Waters, with the result that he had a
most exciting adventure with a big bull elephant. He set out in quest
of the depredator, and, guided by a few of the Wa Kikuyu, soon came
upon him hidden among some shady trees. Waters was a great believer in
a close shot, so he stalked up to within a few yards of the animal and
then fired his .577, aiming for the heart. The elephant responded by a
prompt and determined charge, and although Waters quickly let him have
the left barrel as well, it proved of no effect; and on he came,
screaming and trumpeting with rage. There was nothing for it,
therefore, but to fly for dear life; so down a path raced Waters for
all he was worth, the elephant giving vigorous chase and gaining
rapidly. In a few seconds matters began to look very serious for the
sportsman, for the huge monster was almost on him; but at the critical
moment he stepped on to the false cover of a carefully-concealed game
pit and disappeared from view as if by magic. This sudden descent of
his enemy apparently into the bowels of the earth so startle