404 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



danger. Willingly my lads piled more fuel on the fires, 

 till the brilliant flames rose several feet from the ground. 

 My new friend and self, with a gun each at hand, took 

 our seats upon the wagon-box, and scarcely had we 

 done so when the roaring recommenced, and was answered 

 in several different directions. 



My dogs were no use, closer and closer they crouched 

 in their sleeping-places, while the white dog of Mr. 

 Curtin was out baying the marauders, giving indication 

 by his voice and vehemence of the whereabouts of the 

 enemy. But my oxen were a sight to look at ; one by 

 one, when they had heard the dreaded sound, rose from 

 their previously recumbent position and faced towards 

 where they apprehended danger. They had learned by 

 this time to place confidence in man, and that their 

 safety depended upon being in his vicinity; so they 

 stood, without an effort to break loose, with their small 

 ears erect, and their eyes looking as if they would burst 

 from their sockets. 



At length day broke, and the disappointed carnivora 

 retired to the east, indicating by an occasional growl or 

 suppressed roar that the success of their night's work 

 had not been satisfactory. The spoor in the morning 

 was easily found, and the natives asserted that there 

 were no less than seven in the coterie. 



A circumstance occurred during the loudest part of 

 the serenade. I have seen the same take place before, 

 but it is sufficiently strange to mention. A Mashoona 

 took a brand from the fire and walked into the woods 

 directly towards the lions. When he had got close to 

 them he waved his fire-stick about his head, and then 

 made a long speech in a very highly -pitched voice. Mr. 

 Catenby, who is conversant with the language, translated 



