SEVERAL YEARS had elapsed since I had found the op-portunity to do any big-game hunting; for at last I had my plans almost perfected for a return to my old stamping-grounds in northern Africa, where in other days I had had excellent sport in pursuit of the king of beasts. The date of my departure had been set; I was to leave in two weeks. No schoolboy counting the lagging hours that must pass before the beginning of "long vacation" released him to the delirious joys of the sum-mer camp could have been filled with greater impatience or keener anticipation. And then came a letter that started me for Africa twelve days ahead of my schedule.