THE RAHAD EIVER 197 



Just as it was getting dark the attention of the 

 goat, which had been bleating loudly, was strongly 

 attracted by some animal behind my machan. I was 

 unable to see in that direction, even if it had been 

 light enough to shoot, and the creature refused to 

 approach the goat, recalling to my mind the fact that 

 on firing at the lioness I thought I heard a low growl 

 and rustle to my right rear. Finally, doubt as to the 

 presence of some beast of prey was set at rest by a 

 distinctly angry series of grunts 20 yards to my 

 right, repeated further off a little later. The call 

 suggested leopard rather than lion, but the brute 

 went right away and did not return. 



March 29th. The remainder of the night passed 

 without incident. At dawn I saw the small male reed- 

 buck, but not the big one. On the way back to camp I 

 noticed only gazelle and oribi. After chota hazri I pros- 

 pected along the left bank, finding that the river 

 made a large loop practically enclosing an island. I 

 missed an oribi at 80 yards in the river-bed, and saw 

 no more game except another oribi. In the afternoon 

 I put turpentine on the lion-skin, and soldered up the 

 skins of the two cubs. In the evening I looked for 

 bushbuck without success in the neighbourhood of the 

 machan. Gazelle were numerous, but I did not shoot. 

 I then entered the machan for an all-night sitting. 



March 30th. The night passed without incident of 



