CHAPTER XVII.

Alarm of an Attack by the Base. — Our Camp moves on. — Independence of the Base.— Elephant-tracks. — Most of the Base leave the Camp. — A Shot at a Lion. — Difficulty of shooting while riding Camels,— The Arabs strike.— Abundance of Quail.

We reached Aibaro in the afternoon, and found the camp in a state of great excitement, and all hands at work strengthening the zariba. It appeared that Longay, who was the son of the sheik of Koolookoo, had informed our party that the Base were getting dissatisfied, and meditated an attack on the camp.

Longay had been with us all the time, and was of great use to us. My attention had been early drawn to him by George, who one day pointed him out to me fetching wood for the cook, and said, The king's son makes himself most useful in bringing wood and water." As he was a person of more importance than most of the other Base, he was promoted to cleaning boots and knives ; and, being moreover so serviceable, we used to allow him inside the zariba, and his inner man was catered for by our cook. He told us that the Base wanted us out of their country, and called him our slave. My belief is, that he said this to ingratiate himself further with us ; and also it is more than probable, that the others were jealous of our attentions to him.

The Base had certainly done all in their power, that morning, to induce the party to leave the camp ; some declaring they had just seen buffaloes in one direction, and others, that there were 144