That's started,' he said. 'I'll ask Ward to keep an eye on them while I try to get a buck.' Determined to pursue any indifferent topic, she asked what sort of game he expected to find.
'Might be anything. But I must keep on till I find something big and fairly eatable. Dwyka or klipspringer are too small to be worth a cartridge, while zebra or waterbuck ... I tried eating zebra the other day!"
She sympathised. There was a pause; both felt awkward.
'I've told off a man,' pursued Archie resolutely, 'to make snares and things. Though I don't believe they ever catch much in them. Those drop traps are the best. A beam poised over a gap in a bit of fence. We might get some small stuff that way—a katiri or even a bush pig. Doubt it, though.'
'Fish?' said Norah, remembering her efforts of the day before.
'Yes, that's what I wanted to ask you. I've told Matao to find some one with ideas; when he comes will you keep an eye on him?'
'They're all Awemba, I suppose?' She knew that that once warlike people had no water-lore.
'Yes, and Matao was shocked when I told him to find one with an Awisa[[1]] mother.'
[[1]] The Awisa, with a certain knowledge of the simpler arts of peace, were conquered and swamped by the purely predatory Awemba.
After a moment of hesitation Archie left her. She saw him speak to Dick, then with his gun under his arm he disappeared into the trees.