92 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



burrow. I sat down, adjusted the sight of my 

 rifle and drew the bead on the heap of sand. 



When he reached the threshold of his refuge 

 the jackal did exactly what a long experience 

 of the habits of his obnoxious tribe had led me 

 to expect, that is to say he sank his hind- 

 quarters into the burrow and then turned to 

 look back, as though in derision, his head, 

 chest and forelegs being exposed. Crack, 

 and he fell back and disappeared. But I knew 

 well enough that the bullet had fetched him ; I 

 heard its " klop " distinctly. 



Hendrick hurried to the jackal's burrow; I 

 returned to the nest. The broken shells had 

 to be removed and the spilt yolks sanded over ; 

 otherwise the birds would most probably have 

 abandoned the clutch. There were three and 

 twenty undamaged eggs remaining. Having 

 put things as straight as possible, I rejoined 

 Hendrick. 



The jackal had disappeared into his burrow, 

 but a big gout of blood just inside the entrance 

 told an unambiguous tale. Hendrick wormed 

 his way into the strait and narrow cavern as 

 far as he thought he safely could ; he emerged 

 empty-handed, but with traces of blood on his 

 clothing. However, Hendrick was not the 

 Hottentot to forego a feast of jackal-flesh 



