238 A NIGHT ADVENTURE SOLITUDE. 



pie thoroughly acquainted with the locality ran great risk of 

 being precipitated into these dangerous traps. 



Lions were numerous and very daring. From time to 

 time, several of Amral's people, while lying in ambush for 

 game at night, had been either carried oiF or fearfully man- 

 gled by these beasts. Finding that I was somewhat incau- 

 tious, the chief expressed the greatest apprehensions for my 

 safety, more especially as I was usually quite alone. 



On one of these occasions I must confess to having felt 

 rather uncomfortable. I had posted myself in a dense mimosa 

 brake, commanding the approach to the Zwart Nosop River 

 at a point much frequented by wild animals, and flanked by 

 an immense pitfall. The darkness was deepened by sur- 

 rounding thick foliage and high river banks. Indeed, so 

 black was the night that I could not discern even the muzzle 

 of my gun. The gloominess of my solitude was increased by 

 the occasional "Qua-qua!" of the night-heron, which made 

 the succeeding hush more dreary, during which even the 

 falling of leaves and rusthng of insects among dry grass was 

 hailed as a relief to the oppressive dumbness. To a man in 

 a savage wilderness, and without a companion, silence, espe- 

 cially when combined with utter privation of light, is inex- 

 pressibly solemn. It strikes the mind not merely as a ne- 

 gation, but as a threatenmg presence. It seems ominous. 

 I shall never forget the loneliness and sense of desolation I 

 felt on this occasion. It was past midnight, and still no game 

 appeared. 



Suddenly I fancied I heard the purr and breathing of an 

 animal close behind me; but as no other indications of any 

 living thing ensued, I attributed the sounds to a heated im- 

 agination. All at once, however, the dismal stillness was 

 disturbed by the quick steps of a troop of pallahs descending 

 the stony slope leading direct to my ambush. Stooping as 

 low as possible, in order to catch their outline, I waited their 

 arrival with my gun on full cock. Nearer and nearer they 



