THE ATBAKA RIVER 97 



went down to sit in the leopard-hole in a bad 

 temper. 



November 28th. Nothing showed all night, some- 

 what to my relief, as I had tied up a milch-goat. 

 Next morning I saw vultures 500 yards from the 

 camp, and found the remains of two of the six lost 

 goats, and could no doubt have found the whole with 

 time and patience. However, I went off on what 

 turned out to be a fruitless quest for Heuglin, getting 

 no real chance at all, and only seeing two unmistak- 

 able bucks. At breakfast an Arab said that he had 

 seen one of my goats alive in the big nullah behind 

 the camp, and a dead one also. I went out and found 

 the live goat. The leopard had seized it by the neck 

 and also broken a foot, probably leaving it for dead 

 to kill another. I could not find the dead goat. In the 

 afternoon I made a machan in a khor, where a lion's 

 tracks are to be seen daily. At night M. returned 

 from Tomat with dourra. No news of lions further 

 up. 



November 29th. Spent the night in machan. 

 Believe a leopard stalked me, but gave it up. Was 

 glad of my revolver. Nothing touched the wounded 

 goat, which was almost a pity. Bagged an 8|-inch 

 Heuglin in early morning. Gave guns a thorough 

 clean-up. Bolt came off old 16-bore rifle, and I 

 soldered it on again. Fished in afternoon for a couple 

 H 



