188 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



roots, anil then dragged by the steins into line, with their wide- 

 spreading heads of sharp hooked thorns forming the outside surface ; 

 these were locked together by their hooks, entangled, and nothing 

 could possibly have broken through, except an elephant or rhinoceros. 



Prowling around this excellent protection was a lion, who was 

 pronounced by myjnmters to be the mate of the lioness which I 

 had killed ; it was declared that the disconsolate husband had 

 followed the course of his wife's body, denoted by the drops of 

 blood that had dripped upon the ground when carried by the camel 

 towards the camp. My j>eople were of opinion that the lion was 

 determined upon vengeance, and that he would assuredly bound 

 over our fence, although he could not absolutely break through it. 



The night was always interesting upon the banks of the Settite 

 river, as vast numbers of wild animals were astir half an hour after 

 sunset, which either came down to drink, or to wander in search 

 of green pasturage, that was ouly to be found in places from which 

 the water had retreated. The lions were accordingly on the alert, 

 and the threatening sound of their deep voices was to be heard in 

 every direction, until approaching daylight drove them to their 

 thickets. 



There is nothing so beautiful, or enjoyable to my ears, as the 

 roar of a lion upon a still night, when everything is calm, and no 

 sound disturbs the solitude except the awe-inspiring notes, like the 

 rumble of distant thunder, as they die away into the deepest bass. 

 The first few notes somewhat resemble the bellow of a bull ; these 

 are repeated in slow succession four or five times, after which the 

 voice is sunk into a lower key, and a number of quick short roars 

 are at length followed by rapid coughing notes, so deep and 

 powerful that they seem to vibrate through the earth. 



Our nocturnal visitor did not indulge in the usual solo, but he 

 continued throughout the night to patrol the circuit of the camp, 

 occasionally betraying his presence by a guttural roar, or by the 

 well-known deep sigh which exhibited the capacity of his lungs. 

 We could not see to shoot, owing to the darkness outside the fence, 

 and the brightness of our fire within the camp; this my men 

 industriously replenished with wood, and occasionally hurled fire- 

 brands in the direction of the intruder. 



At length we went to sleep, leaving the natives to keep watch 

 they declared that nothing would induce them to close their eyes, 

 as the lion would assuredly carry oft' one of the party before the 

 morning. To their great discontent, I refused to disturb the night 

 by firing a gun, as I had determined to hunt up the lion on the 

 following day at sunrise. 



