string like a
puppy. He heard this, wagging his tail in quite an equivocal manner.
Nell, however, claimed that it could be seen from his eyes that he was
ashamed and that he certainly blushed; only this could not be seen
because his mouth was covered with hair.

After this followed breakfast, consisting of excellent wild figs and a
rump of venison. During the breakfast Kali related his adventures,
while Stas interpreted them in English for Nell who did not understand
the Kiswahili language. The buffalo, as it appeared, fled far. It was
difficult for Kali to find the tracks as it was a moonless night.
Fortunately, rain had fallen two days before and the ground was not too
hard; in consequence of this the heavy animal's hoofs left deep
imprints upon it. Kali sought them with the aid of his toes and walked
a long distance. The buffalo finally fell and must have dropped dead as
there was no sign of a fight between him and Saba. When Kali found them
Saba already had devoured the greater part of the fore quarter of the
buffalo, and although he was fully sated he would not permit the
approach of two hyenas and about a dozen of jackals, which stood
waiting until the more powerful rapacious creature finished his feast
and left. The boy complained that the dog also growled at him, but he
then threatened him with the anger of the "great master" and the
"bibi," after which he grabbed him by the collar and dragged him from
the buffalo, and did not let go of him until they reached the ravine.

With this ended the narrative of Kali's nocturnal adventures, after
which all in good humor mounted their horses and proceeded on their
journey.

One alone, long-limbed Mea, though quiet and meek, gazed with envy at
the young negro's necklace and Saba's collar, and with sorrow in her
heart thought:

"Both of them are 'the great world,' and I have only a brass ring on
one leg."

III

During the following three days they rode continuously in the ravine
and always upwards. The days were as a rule scorching, the nights
alternately cool or sultry; the rainy season was approaching. From
beyond the horizon here and there emerged clouds, white as milk but
deep and heavy. At the sides could already be seen stripes of rain and
distant rainbows. Towards the morning of the third day one of these
clouds burst above their heads like a barrel from which the hoops had
flown off and sprinkled them with a warm and copious rain which
fortunately was