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CHAPTER III. 



GREAT VARIETY OF GAME. 



On the second morning after our introduction to 

 buffalo, a long string of elephants deployed past us 

 at a distance of half a mile. They were travelling 

 very rapidly, and Sunday assured us that there was 

 no use going after them, as they would not stop till 

 they reached the flats, near where an affluent 

 river runs towards the Limpopo. His advice was 

 willingly taken, for none of us were very anxious for 

 more exercise than was absolutely necessary, the 

 reason being that for three nights neither of us had 

 had a wink of sleep from the number and audacity 

 of the lions that surrounded our camp. We had no 

 kraal for protection ; only the most flimsy of grass 

 huts to lie in, while the natives slept on the ground 

 around the fires. Thus we were open to attack at 

 any mcment. Anyhow, we had abundance of fuel 

 to help to keep things straight. The last night of 

 our stay the anticipated crisis seemed to have 

 arrived, for soon after midnight three or four of the 

 natives rushed into our shanty, and the others took 

 to the trees. The fire at the moment was burning 

 brightly, and we all distinctly saw a lioness standing 



