CARRION FEEDERS. I 35 



faltered in their ardour, and far too heedlessly, to 

 my thinking, exposed themselves to be attacked at 

 great disadvantage. 



Disgusted at our want of success, we were about 

 giving up the prosecution of our search till daylight, 

 when the angry voices of several hyaenas broke 

 upon our ears. These carrion feeders were not 

 now calling to each other, but uttering, with 

 repeated yells, their disapprobation that they were 

 not permitted to join in the banquet on human flesh. 

 Intuitively my men knew what these bloodthirsty 

 notes indicated, so, with one accord, they rushed in 

 the direction from whence they emanated. The 

 distance was not very great — 300 yards at the most 

 — but the surface of the ground was fearfully rough 

 to traverse, from the innumerable boulders and 

 fallen trees that rested upon it. Our course, too, 

 was a steep ascent, well calculated to knock the 

 wind out of any one not in the most perfect train- 

 ing. Several times I had to call my people back 

 and explain that upon me and my rifle they must 

 depend ; but even this obvious fact did not produce 

 the effect I wished to instil into them. I thoroughly 

 believe that these brave fellows — there were only 

 my Zulus with me — regardless of consequences, 

 would have attacked the adversary, although so 

 inadequately fit for such a contest. 



At length we reached the vicinity of the place 

 indicated by the hyaenas ; the torches were re- 



