Page:H. D. Traill - From Cairo to the Soudan Frontier.djvu/130

is a stumpy, thick-set little donkey-boy, the other leaner and lither, a little the less skilled performer of the two in attack, but almost impossible to dislodge. His legs seem everywhere. He uses them like a couple of additional straps attached to the animal's harness, and while you are wondering how it is that he holds on when every other part of his person seems detached from the donkey, you notice at last that one brown foot has been passed under the donkeys belly and between her hind legs, and is hooked firmly on to one of her hocks. There is as much manoeuvring for position and the players seem as fastidious about their "grip" as in a wrestling match in the Cornish and Devonshire style. Round and round they circle, catching at and again loosing each other, until, each satisfied, apparently, with his momentary position, they close. The shorter donkey-boy has the taller round the middle, and is exerting desperate efforts to dislodge him. To and fro they sway, and again and