CHAPTER XI.
THE COMING OF DOGEETAH The sunset that day was like the sunrise, particularly fine, although as in the case of the tea, I remembered little of it till afterwards.
In fact, thunder was about, which always produces grand cloud effects in Africa.
The sun went down like a great red eye, over which there dropped suddenly a black eyelid of cloud with a fringe of purple lashes.
There's the last I shall see of you, my old friend, thought I to myself, unless I catch you up presently.
The gloom began to gather.

The king looked about him, also at the sky overhead, as though he feared rain, then whispered something to Babemba, who nodded and strolled up to my post.
"White lord," he said, "the Elephant wishes to know if you are ready, as presently the light will be very bad for shooting ?" "No," I answered with decision, "not till half an hour after sundown as was agreed." Babemba went to the king and returned to me.
"White lord, the king says that a bargain is a bargain, and he will keep to his word.

Only you must not then blame him if the shooting is bad, since of course he did not know that the night would be so cloudy, which is not usual at this time of year." It grew darker and darker, till at length we might have been lost in a London fog.

The dense masses of the people looked like banks, and the archers, flitting to and fro as they made ready, might have been shadows in Hades.

Once or twice lightning flashed and was followed after a pause by the distant growling of thunder.