ler, though all built of the same material
and in the same firm manner. Taking up one by the stalk, I carried it
home to show to Natty. He declared that he thought some of our black
friends would swallow them, if baked, as a delicious mouthful. I
carried it out again, and stuck the stalk in the ground, when I saw the
inhabitants crawling down, evidently under the belief that the waters
had subsided, and that they might now descend into their subterranean
habitation.

I need scarcely say that I looked out anxiously all the day in the hope
that Stanley or some of our other friends might pass in that direction
on a hunting expedition. Natty asked how it was they had not come to
look for us. I accounted for it from their naturally supposing that if
we had not lost our lives, we were detained somewhere on the lake, and
that they would therefore search for us there.

Natty grew no worse, but still he did not appear to gain strength.
Often he urged me to set off without him; but to this I would not
consent. The journey might occupy me two or even three days, and it
would take as long a time to return to him. "No," I replied; "until you
are well enough to move, I will stay by you." I thought that if I could
but procure some variety of food, he might improve faster; but I had now
only five or six charges of powder left, and I was anxious to preserve
these for any emergency. One of my fears was, that from so frequently
shooting the birds in the neighbourhood of the pool, they might grow
wary of me. However, they did not appear to be more alarmed when I came
near them than at first. Sometimes I went in the evening, sometimes in
the morning, and never failed to bring down three or four birds. I
think that I must have frightened away the lions, for I never saw them
again, though I heard their roars in the distance. I suspect that they
waited to visit the pool till they saw me take my departure.

I was one day about half a mile from the baobab-tree, when I saw,
perched on a bush near me, a little bird about the size of a chaffinch,
of a light grey colour. It seemed in no way afraid of me, but continued
chattering and twittering in a state of great excitement. Then it got
up and flew backwards and forwards before me, apparently endeavouring to
attract my attention. As I approached it flew on a little in front. I
followed it. On seeing this, it went on and on in a wavy course, a few
yards before me, alighting every