noon
Next morning , however , when we set out before daylight , I made the discovery that he was carrying my revolver fastened to his waist . He had concealed it carefully under the one simple garment he wore , but it bulged slightly , and so the secret was betrayed . I had never believed that he had lost it , and I was convinced that he took it now with the object of putting it into my hands at the last moment in case of meeting with an enemy . From the village we travelled in a north-westerly direction , and before noon camped in a grove of dwarf trees , where we remained until the sun was low , then continued our walk through a rather barren country . At night we camped again beside a small stream , only a few inches deep , and after a meal of smoked meat and parched maize prepared to sleep till dawn on the next day . Sitting by the fire I resolved to make a first attempt to discover from Kua-ko anything concerning Rima which might be known to him . Instead of lying down when the others did , I remained seated , my guardian also sitting -- no doubt waiting for me to lie down first .