es with a lofty and
silent contempt.

You may be sure we had our arrangements, though they did not appear on
the surface. The askaris, or native soldiers, were posted here and there
with their muskets; the gunbearers also kept our spare weapons by them.
The askaris could not hit a barn, but they could make a noise. The
gunbearers were fair shots.

Of course the chief and his prime minister came in. They were
evil-looking savages. To them we paid not the slightest attention, but
went about our usual business as though they did not exist. At the end
of an hour they of their own initiative greeted us. We did not hear
them. Half an hour later they disappeared, to return after an interval,
followed by a string of young men bearing firewood. Evidently our
bearing had impressed them, as we had intended. We then unbent far
enough to recognize them, carried on a formal conversation for a few
moments, gave them adequate presents and dismissed them. Then we ordered
the askaris to clear camp and to keep it clear. No women had appeared.
Even the gifts of firewood had been carried by men, a most unusual
proceeding.

As soon as dark fell the drums began roaring in the forest all about our
clearing, and the chanting to rise. We instructed our men to shoot first
and inquire afterward, if a shenzi so much as showed himself in the
clearing. This was not as bad as it sounded; the shenzi stood in no
immediate danger. Then we turned in to a sleep rather light and broken
by uncertainty. I do not think we were in any immediate danger of a
considered attack, for these people were not openly hostile; but there
was always a chance that the savages might by their drum pounding and
dancing work themselves into a frenzy. Then we might have to do a little
rapid shooting. Not for one instant the whole night long did those
misguided savages cease their howling and dancing. At any rate we cost
them a night's sleep.

Next morning we took up our march through the deserted tracks once more.
Not a sign of human life did we encounter. About ten o'clock we climbed
down a tremendous gash of a box canyon with precipitous cliffs. From
below we looked back to see, perched high against the skyline, the
motionless figures of many savages watching us from the crags. So we had
had company after all, and we had not known it. This canyon proved to
be the boundary line. With the same abruptness we passed again into
friendly country.

(d) OUT THE OTHER SIDE

We