XXVI SOUTHWARD ONCE MORE 327 



to, as otherwise the huts are made quite strong 

 enough to have kept him out.^ 



When the old chief had finished his story, he 

 swallowed the rest of the coffee, looked round 

 nervously at the gathering gloom, and quickly took 

 himself off to his manyatta before darkness closed in. 

 It was very evident that he was in great dread of 

 the man-eater. 



Our scanty meal was rather late that evening, 

 and I well remember the anxious glances we cast 

 into the gloomy thicket as we sat at dinner with 

 our rifles on our knees, listening to the ominous 

 grunts and purrs of that self-same lion. The 

 brute prowled round us all night, but made no 

 attack, as I kept big fires going, and had watchers 

 in pairs on the move round the camp until dawn 

 appeared. 



1 The Rendile often use a rude kind of tent when on the move, but 

 build huts here and there when settled. 



