88 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



tiring scramble by moonlight for the last few 

 miles along the bank of the river, which was 

 often densely wooded to its very edge. 



It was just commencing to rain when at last 

 we reached the lake, but we managed to put 

 up a lean-to, over which we stretched our flimsy 

 bit of sail-cloth. Soon, however, the flood-gates 

 of heaven seemed to have opened, as the rain, 

 which had at first been light, became a steady 

 downpour, and never stopped for one instant 

 till two o'clock the following afternoon. 



I have experienced much heavier rain in 

 tropical countries in the shape of storms which 

 did not last long, but onlj^ once before have 

 I known a steady downpour to be so long- 

 continued. 



We made no attempt to sleep, as the rain beat 

 into the front of our shelter, and the old canvas 

 tarpaulin leaked so much that it was impossible 

 to lie down without exposing oneself to the 

 drippings from many places. Fortunately all 

 round our camx^ there was an inexhaustible 

 supply of fuel in the shape both of standing 

 and fallen trees, and by constantly piling great 



