A PAIR OF WORTHIES. 279 



her powers to feel overtaxed. The earliness of the 

 hour still allowed several of the nocturnal prowlers 

 to be out of their dens, for I came across a brace 

 of jackals, who, after giving me an impudent stare, 

 as if inquiring what the mischief I was about at 

 such an unseemly time, whisked their voluminous 

 brushes in my face and at once sought shelter in 

 the nearest cover they could find. At that moment 

 I devoutly wished that I had with me some of my 

 greyhounds, the country being open and admirably 

 suited for a course ; and jackals are, to my think- 

 ing, a much more worthy prey for well-bred dogs 

 to show their merits upon than poor, timid, long- 

 eared puss. While regretting my inability to witness 

 the performance of my greyhounds, I almost galloped 

 upon a pair of hyenas, whose dislike at my intrusion 

 was exhibited by the ugly manner in which they 

 curled their upper lips and exhibited their formidable 

 ivories. But the skulking scoundrels had no idea 

 of waiting for closer intimacy, and at once started, 

 at their long lope, for the rocky country which was 

 now close before me. Before they gained it there 

 was a good three-quarters of a mile (of what looked 

 fair travelling for the little roan) to be traversed by 



