OUTWITTING A JACKAL 51 



except that of the pointed ears which followed 

 the following eyes. The distance decreased 

 as the spiral drew in; the Lachesis-web was 

 being spun fine ; Atropos stood ready with her 

 shears. Fifty forty yards now he must be 

 very uneasy indeed. There was evidently no 

 burrow available; otherwise he would long 

 since have disappeared into it. He had never 

 seen anyone manoeuvre like this; how he 

 wished he had bolted when I first altered my 

 course. Thirty twenty yards; that was 

 more than he could stand. He hurled himself 

 forth only to fall, riddled by a charge of 

 buck-shot. 



Hendrick came running across the flat, his 

 face beaming with delight. There would be joy 

 in the camp that night, for jackal-flesh is the 

 Hottentots' favourite delicacy. 



Try as I might, I never in the course of 

 my various Bushmanland trips had been able 

 to shake Hendrick off, for my friend Andries 

 had issued strict injunctions that he was never 

 to lose my spoor. So whenever I left camp, 

 Hendrick made careful note of the direction I 

 had taken and, after an interval, followed me. 

 No notice was taken of the protests I made 

 against this, as a rule, wholly unnecessary 

 precaution, for Andries had a strong arm and 



