THE BIG GAME OF AFRICA 



was awakened by a sudden pain, caused by a bite from a 

 large hyena, which had taken hold of his hand, attempting 

 to drag him into the bush. As the hunter awoke and 

 shouted, the cowardly beast retreated quickly into the 

 thicket, and, bent on revenge, the sportsman got his rifle 

 and lay down again in the hammock in the same position 

 as when the hyena caught his hand. He had only watched 

 for a few minutes when the hungry beast came crouching 

 out of the bush to attempt a second attack, only to fall dead 

 the next moment, struck by a well-aimed bullet between 

 the eyes. 



The hyena is not as strictly nocturnal in its habits as 

 it is often supposed. Once, when encamped on the eastern 

 shores of Lake Elmenteita, I had shot two zebras, as related 

 in the foregoing chapter. Most of the meat of the two 

 stallions had been brought to camp, while certain parts of 

 it still remained where the animals had fallen. There, in 

 broad daylight, a large spotted male hyena came out of 

 the bush to devour the remains of the zebras, when it was 

 discovered by some of the porters. These fellows quietly 

 notified their comrades and, without saying a word to me, 

 as yet, they surrounded the hyena. With knob-sticks, 

 spears and poles, they now made a concerted attack on the 

 beast. Before the men could come near enough to strike, 

 the hyena darted into a nearby thick bush, where it was 

 safe from any blows from sticks or poles. 



The bush had a circumference of some forty feet, and 

 the delighted porters now closed in on it from all sides, 

 yelling at the top of their lungs. This " war-cry " aroused 

 my suspicion, and, just as I was going to start in that 

 direction, one of the men came running into camp to tell 



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