272 GIRAFFE HUNTING. 



looking countenance. He had scarcely passed me 

 more than a few yards when a kite made a swoop at 

 the flesh, and in an instant after was in possession of 

 the prize, and making off with it. " Saundey " 

 seemed to be incapable of understanding the situa- 

 tion for some minutes, when he let loose from his 



already well-opened mouth, " You d d hoody 



craw, if I had you by the neck, I'd twist your blasted 

 head off." 



The flight of locusts had one good effect, more 

 particularly as I wished to write up my journal ; it 

 took all idlers off in pursuit of it, even the dogs. 

 Of course, the cattle and horses had long since 

 gone to pasture under the care of their respective 

 herds, or no doubt they would have joined in the 

 exodus, for everything in these parts unless it be 

 an unexceptional European eat locusts. About 

 one p,m. I turned into my sleeping waggon for a read 

 and snooze, with a bundle of those literary treasures 

 Chambers* Journal. All was as still as the grave 

 about me, and as I felt very much disposed for a 

 siesta, I turned on my side to have the proverbial 

 forty winks. I was just on the line of delimitation 

 where the land of Nod commences, when I heard, as 

 I supposed, a lion roar, and at no great distance off. 

 The time of day, and the evidence on every side 

 of the proximity of man, caused me to think that 

 my ears had deceived me, so I simply sat up on my 

 cartel (swing bed), rubbed my eyes, and listened. 

 Again the noise was repeated, the same full volumed 

 bass sound, and it came evidently from among the trees 

 on the edge of the vley. "No mistake this time/' I 

 exclaimed to myself, as I took down from the slings 

 my '500 double Express rifle and shoved half-a-dozen 

 cartridges into my trousers pockets. Over the/0r- 

 kist I slowly and carefully shoved my head, and 

 peered into every nook and corner with penetrating 

 gaze doubly intensified. Nothing could I see, how- 



