258 EXTRACTS FROM 
the dead bird had sent his attendant, who was a bold swimmer, 
into the water; and in a few minutes the plucky Arab came 
swimming towards us, dragging the heavy bird behind him 
by its bill. I was delighted with my first Pelican, for it was 
quite an enormous specimen. 
In the evening I walked up and down the strand in pursuit 
of the smaller shore-birds; and as soon as it became too dark 
for shooting, all the sportsmen came into dinner, bringing 
home with them another fairly good bag. After this interesting 
day all was soon quiet in the camp. 
Next morning we were to have started at an early hour, 
and to have rowed over to a tongue of land on the opposite 
shore of the lake for the flight of the birds; but the night un- 
fortunately brought with it worse weather, and before sun- 
rise the wind had risen to such a height that the fishermen 
refused to put out, so we were obliged to spend another day 
on the island. We all slept late, and went in the morning to 
the rocks with the dachshunds, where we hunted about in 
vain, for not another lynx was to be found. We therefore 
devoted the rest of the day to the shores. 
The waterfowl took very unfavourable lines of flight and 
sarefully avoided the island, so towards evening I took a walk 
right round it, and killed a fine Barbary Falcon, some Sand- 
pipers, and a Raven. 
The storm now moderated, the sky cleared, and we were 
gladdened by some inspiriting sunshine and splendid effects 
of light; but it was not until I saw a fishing-craft slip tolerably 
quietly past the western point of the island that I was quite 
satisfied and free from anxiety about the sport of the morrow. 
The boat coming from the desert side of the lake and pro- 
ceeding towards the cultivated country passed close to my 
hiding-place, and was rowed by wild-looking dusky fellows 
clad in miserable rags, who were singing weird and doleful 
songs. It was a strange picture; far and wide not a trace of 
