182 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



adequate protection, in this exposed and solitary 

 spot, against the lions. 



We had some tea and bread and butter, and 

 then Clifford Hill and I set out afoot after meat. 

 Only occasionally do these hard-working settlers 

 get a chance for hunting on the plains so near 

 them ; and now they had promised their native 

 retainers that they would send back a treat of 

 game. To carry this promised luxury, a number 

 of the villagers had accompanied the bullock 

 wagon. As we were to move on next day, it 

 became very desirable to get the meat promptly 

 while still near home. 



We slipped over to the other side, and by good 

 fortune caught sight of a dozen zebras feeding 

 in scrub half-way down the hill. They were out 

 of their proper environment up there, but we 

 were glad of it. Down on our tummies, then, 

 we dropped, and crawled slowly forward through 

 the high, sweet grasses. We were in the late 

 afternoon shadow of the hill, and we enjoyed 

 the mild skill of the stalk. Taking advantage 

 of every cover, slipping over into little ravines, 

 lying very flat when one of the beasts raised his 

 head, we edged nearer and nearer. We were 

 already well within range, but it amused us to 

 play the game. Finally, at one hundred yards, 



