"Ah, we had a nice job with that," he answered. "The second sick ox
died, and so did another, and we had to get on as best we could with
three harnessed unicorn fashion, while we pushed behind. We did about
four miles a day, and it took us nearly a month, during the last week
of which we pretty well starved."

"I notice," I said, "that most of your trips ended in disaster of some
sort or another, and yet you went on making them, which strikes one as
a little strange."

"Yes, I dare say: but then, remember I got my living for many years
out of hunting. Besides, half the charm of the thing lay in the
dangers and disasters, though they were terrible enough at the time.
Another thing is, my trips were not all disastrous. Some time, if you
like, I will tell you a story of one which was very much the reverse,
for I made several thousand pounds out of it, and saw one of the most
extraordinary sights a hunter ever came across. It was on this trip
that I met the bravest native woman I ever knew; her name was Maiwa.
But it is too late now, and besides, I am tired of talking about
myself. Pass the water, will you!"