232 STALKS ABROAD 



sanctimonious appearance merely a cloak for their 

 disgusting predilections, veritable wolves in sheep's 

 clothing, stalked solemnly and sedately up the 

 hill. Despite their curiously precise and pedantic 

 air, a lurking furtiveness hung about them. I 

 fancied I heard them muttering to each other, 

 " Disgraceful behaviour ! " " Unseemly interruption ! " 

 I am sure that if speech had been suddenly conferred 

 on them, they would have answered somewhat after 

 this manner : " It is quite true, my dear sir, that 

 appearances are against us, but I can assure you 

 that you only find us near this loathsome piece 'of 

 offal by the merest chance. Noticing a number of 

 those disgusting vultures about, we ventured to 

 approach in order to discover the meaning of their 

 presence. A horrid scene, as you so truly observe. 

 Ugh ! Allow us to wish you a very good morning ! " 



The zebra had been picked clean, but not by 

 a lion. He had never been near it again. Have 

 I not already said that my dreams were unrealised 

 and that I never got one ? It is always the un- 

 attainable and unattained which we most desire. 

 The salmon we lost was always the biggest ; the 

 stag over the march ever carried the finest head ; 

 the young lady whose card was full up was surely 

 the most beautiful ! So it always has been, so it 

 always will be, so long as human nature is human 

 nature. 



I found Burton had got a very beautiful impala 

 on my return to camp. If my memory serves me 



