LIONS PROWLING ABOUT US. 255 



action, with our guns ready for service ; but I had not 

 gone many yards when Umganey stopped me, en- 

 deavouring, in the few broken words of English he could 

 command, to prevent me going any farther. 



"What does the fellow say?" I asked my com- 

 panion. 



" That the lion can see in the dark, and if you go 

 near him now, he will see to kill you, while you can't 

 see to shoot him." 



While Umganey 's interruption occurred, several 

 voices from the vicinity of where the accident had 

 happened called out, in Bechuana, that it was a quay 

 (young cow) that had been killed. This was reassuring, 

 for both had dreaded that the marauders had selected a 

 horse, for, strange to say, they invariably choose that 

 animal before all others for their prey. 



My friend turned to me, and said, " We had better 

 listen to Umganey's advice, as it is only a cow ; there is 

 no use running any risks for it." So we returned to 

 the wagons, had large fires made, and planned our 

 course of action for the morrow. 



We could not help, however, being uneasy, for more 

 than half our people were missing, and all the loose 

 cattle and horses absent, they having doubtless in their 

 alarm stampeded back. 



A more uncomfortable night I have not often passed. 

 A disagreeable, drizzling rain continued falling, and we 

 dare not take shelter ; moreover, the dogs were kept in a 

 constant state of alarm, giving utterance to their feelings 

 of fear by incessant whines and suppressed growls ; 

 while from the wood on the margin of the river, the 

 lions were evidently having a battle over their prey; 

 jackals and hyaenas around them giving vent to their 



