CAMP GIBRALTAR. 25 



ground, sounds can be distinctly heard that, standing up, 

 would be inaudible. 



A few large stones, a sage-brush or two, placed so as to 

 look as natural as possible, a hole in the ground, made a 

 fair rifle-pit. 



The highest tree in the grove was utilised as a look-out 

 station, sufficient foot and hand holes were soon made in 

 the trunk to enable a climber to reach its branches. From 

 these the top of the tree was easily accessible, arid the 

 lopping off of a few boughs permitted the eye to have a 

 clear view to the horizon. No more could be done. The 

 festive tin cup was passed round. "Camp Gibraltar" 

 received its christening. 



After dinner all hands turned out with sharpened hunt- 

 ing knives, to work till night cutting and stacking the long 

 grass : thenceforth the animals were to be securely tied up 

 every night in the thicket, and would require to have hay. 



An observation, taken at sunset from our look-out, re- 

 vealed the fact that the buffaloes were drawing nearer, and 

 we lay down for the night in a fever of expectation. Sleep, 

 except in broken snatches, was an impossibility. The peep 

 of dawn found a watcher in the tree, but disappointment 

 was his lot. The main herd seemed to have moved diago- 

 nally to our left, and to be really no nearer than when last 

 seen, and so we had to employ and amuse ourselves, and 

 wile away the time as well as we could. More grass was 

 cut, wood was chopped, collected, and piled up for future 

 use. Arms were examined and cleaned. Cards brought 

 out ; seven-up, mountain -jack, and euchre had each their 

 turn, and whisky-poker, a harmless, non-gambling game, in 



