ed it day and
night at full speed. Even a camel would go down under that."

As they advanced, the dust rose in clouds about them, hanging low and
choking the Indians behind until they had to come forward. Once or twice
the barking call of a zebra sounded from the distance, and toward
morning the distant growl of a lion, but no other signs of life came to
them.

The boys had been busy all day, and they were tired enough to doze off
in the saddle as they went forward, the white dust covering them all
with a thick coating. Hour after hour they plodded on, at intervals
wiping out the nostrils of the horses and cattle with a wet cloth by way
of refreshment. Von Hofe chatted intermittently with Schoverling, who
guided the march by compass, but the boys were too weary for talk.

At five o'clock they halted on the edge of a dry water-course. They had
not omitted to fetch along a good supply of fodder for the cattle, which
was loaded in the wagon to the very top of the tilt. The horses were
given a few swallows of water each, the Masai dined on roast meat about
their fires, while the four explorers and the Indians made an excellent
repast on cold meat and biscuits with tea. Biscuits were Charlie's
specialty, and before the start he had made a good supply, as their
flour was running low.

For three hours they rested here, Schoverling and Jack keeping watch in
turn. At the next halt von Hofe and Charlie would stand guard, then the
three Indians. At eight the cattle were inspanned, and they plodded
onward until noon, hot and choked with dust. No complaint came from the
Masai, and here the second meal of the day was eaten.

The boys had thought that first march across that almost deserted grass
plain was hard, but this gave them an inkling of the meaning of an
African trek. They slept with heads on their saddles, the single tent
they had brought along shading them somewhat. The Indians and a few
Masai slept on the fodder beneath the hood of the wagon, the rest
stretched out under the wagon itself.

At three they inspanned and went on again until seven, when another two
hours' rest and the evening meal took place. Thus they traveled sixteen
hours and rested eight, the men and cattle both getting on more easily
at night than in the blazing sun.

That first afternoon nothing much occurred to interest them. Out on the
dry desert scoured a few ostriches, at which the boys took distant shots
but without result. In the evening they