154 AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 



began to slip in the greasy soil; we knew the rain would 

 refresh the cattle, but would make the going harder. 



At one we halted, in the rain, for a couple of hours' rest. 

 Just before this we heard two lions roaring, or rather grunt- 

 ing, not far in front of us; they were after prey. Lions 

 are bold on rainy nights, and we did not wish to lose any 

 of our horses; so a watch was organized, and we kept ready 

 for immediate action, but the lions did not come. The 

 native boys built fires, and lay close to them, relieving one 

 another, and us, as sentinels. Kermit and I had our army 

 overcoats, which are warm and practically water-proof; 

 the others had coats almost as good. We lay down in the 

 rain, on the drenched grass, with our saddle-cloths over 

 our feet, and our heads on our saddles, and slept comfort- 

 ably for two hours. 



At three we mounted and were off again, the rain still 

 falling. There were steep ravines to cross, slippery from 

 the wet; but we made good time, and soon after six off- 

 saddled on the farther side of a steep drift or ford in the 

 little Suavi River. It is a rapid stream flowing between 

 high, well-wooded banks; it was an attractive camp site, 

 and, as we afterward found, the nights were so cool as to 

 make great camp-fires welcome. At half-past ten the safari 

 appeared, in excellent spirits, the flag waving, to an accom- 

 paniment of chanting and horn-blowing; and, to their 

 loudly expressed satisfaction, the porters were told that 

 they should have an extra day's rations, as well as a day's 

 rest. Camp was soon pitched; and all, of every rank, 

 slept soundly that night, though the lions moaned near by. 

 The wagons did not get in until ten the following morning. 

 By that time the oxen had been nearly three days without 



