MY SOMALI BOOK 115 



companions or of the small boy in charge. Fifty yards 

 further away the goat was dragged and the leopard 

 commenced her meal. But the feast, earned by an 

 hour's patient watching, was not to be enjoyed in 

 peace. Following, nosing on the trail, came the ugly 

 mug of the hated war aba, coming to a sudden stand- 

 still as turning a corner it sighted the leopard on its 

 kill. 



A low threatening growl I but the intruder stood 

 his ground. Sterner measures were necessary, and 

 reluctantly leaving its kill the leopard went for the foe. 

 But fair fighting did not appeal to the latter, who 

 promptly fled. Pursuit and punishment meant risking 

 the dinner, so the leopard returned to its meal. But 

 twice and again the warabas long-drawn hunting 

 call rose upon the night air and presently three skulking 

 forms might have been seen approaching. I was not 

 there to see but I can well imagine the concentrated 

 fury of the leopard's snarling growl. But now she 

 dared not leave her kill, knowing that to chase one 

 of the would-be robbers was to give another his 

 opportunity. Fighting was all very well, but just 

 then she wanted to dine ; moreover, she was a small 

 leopard and this was possibly an occasion where 

 discretion would prove the better part. Which being 

 so 'twere folly to await the attack. And gripping the 

 remains of the goat firmly by the back of the neck 

 she raced for the nearest tree. 



I fancy that each of the warabas, with characteristic 

 modesty, was urging the others forward, and was so 

 busy saying " After you, old chap ! " that they all 

 forgot that their antagonist was a cat. Anyway, their 



