you chaps!" I said. "While we waited for that woman she and
her maid went through our things again!"

"How d'you know it was she?" asked Fred.

"No mistaking the scent she uses. Where's our money?"

"Here in my pocket."

"Good. The map's gone, though!"

Will showed big teeth in the first really happy smile for several days.

"Good enough!" he said. "Let's go to bed now. I'll bet you my share
of the ivory they're poring over the map with a magnifying-glass!
D'you remember the various places we underscored? They'll think it's a
cryptogram and fret over it all night! Come on--come to bed!"

CHAPTER SIX

THE SONG OF THE GREAT GAME RESERVE

Noah was our godfather, and he pitched and caulked a ship
'With stable-room for two of each and fodder for the trip,
Lest when the Flood made sea of earth the animals should die;
And two by two he stalled us till the wrath of God was by.
But who in the name of the Pentateuch can the paleface people be
Who ha' done on the plains of Africa more than he did at sea?

A million hoofs once drummed the dust (Kongoni led the way!)
From river-pool to desert-lick we thundered in array
Until the dark-skin people came with tube and smoke and shot,
Hunting and driving and killing, and leaving the meat to rot.
And we didn't know who the hunters were, but we saw the herds grow thin
That used to drum the dust-clouds up with thousand-footed din.

We were few when the paleface people came--scattered and few and afraid.
Fewer were they, but they brought the law, and the dark-skin men obeyed.
The paleface people drew a line that none by dark or day
Might cross with fell intent to hunt--capture or drive or slay.
But who can the paleface people be with red-meat appetites
Who ruled anew what Noah knew--that animals have rights?

And now in the Athi Game Reserve--in a million-acre park
A million creatures graze who went by twos into the Ark.
We sleep o' nights without alarm (Kongoni, prick your ear!)
And barring the leopard and lion to watch, and ticks, we've nought
to fear,
Zebra, giraffe and waterbuck, rhino and ostrich too--
But who can the paleface people be who know what Noah knew?

The lions awoke us a little before dawn as the proprietor had promised.
They seemed to have had bad hunting, for their boastfulness was gone.
They came in twos and threes, snarling, only roaring intermittently--in
a hurry because the hated d