came
imperceptibly nearer until we could make out the white gleam of the
porters' tents and wisps of smoke curling upward.

Then a small black mass disengaged itself from the camp and came slowly
across the prairie in our direction. As it approached we made it out
to be our Monumwezis, twenty strong. The news of the lions had reached
them, and they were coming to meet us. They were huddled in a close
knot, their heads inclined toward the centre. Each man carried upright
a peeled white wand. They moved in absolute unison and rhythm, on a
slanting zigzag in our direction: first three steps to the right, then
three to the left, with a strong stamp of the foot between. Their bodies
swayed together. Sulimani led them, dancing backward, his wand upheld.

"Sheeka!" he enunciated in a piercing half whistle.

And the swaying men responded in chorus, half hushed, rumbling, with
strong aspiration.

"Goom zoop! goom zoop!"

When fifty yards from us, however, the formation broke and they rushed
us with a yell. Our horses plunged in astonishment, and we had hard work
to prevent their bolting, small blame to 'em! The men surrounded us,
shaking our hands frantically. At once they appropriated everything we
or our gunbearers carried. One who got left otherwise insisted on having
Billy's parasol. Then we all broke for camp at full speed, yelling like
fiends, firing our revolvers in the air. It was a grand entry, and a
grand reception. The rest of the camp poured out with wild shouts. The
dark forms thronged about us, teeth flashing, arms waving. And in the
background, under the shadows of the trees were the Monumwezis, their
formation regained, close gathered, heads bent, two steps swaying to
the right-stamp! two steps swaying to the left-stamp!-the white wands
gleaming, and the rumble of their lion song rolling in an undertone:

"Goom zoop! goom zoop!"

XV. THE LION DANCE

We took our hot baths and sat down to supper most gratefully, for we
were tired. The long string of men, bearing each a log of wood, filed in
from the darkness to add to our pile of fuel. Saa-sita and Shamba knelt
and built the night fire. In a moment the little flame licked up through
the carefully arranged structure. We finished the meal, and the boys
whisked away the table.

Then out in the blackness beyond our little globe of light we became
aware of a dull confusion, a rustling to and fro. Through the shadows
the eye could guess at movement. T