82 ttecotteettons of Adventures 



we assured them that the " Wolven Pirie " were all 

 dead. It was quite hard work hauling the brutes 

 out with ropes, up the steep entrance passage, as 

 they were very large and fat, and it took us all 

 the afternoon to get them out and skin them. 

 The Kaffirs were much impressed when they was 

 them lying dead, in the corners of the caves, and 

 bragged immensely (when they got home with the 

 skins) about their bravery in going into the cave for 

 them ! The skull and jaw of the African hyena is 

 much more powerful in proportion to his body than 

 that of the lion, and his teeth are immensely strong. 

 When I had told Hans and Rasmus that I had shot 

 nine they would not believe me until I showed them 

 the skins. After a few days, having seen fresh 

 spoor in the entrance, I went again; this time 

 taking Louis Devereux with me to hold the extra 

 lantern, but I only found and killed three, and again 

 I went the last time and only killed one, after which 

 we were not troubled any more by hyenas in the 

 village of Pretoria, and the neighbouring farmers 

 were pleased. The skins make excellent tanned 

 leather, and neck " strops " for oxen. These same 

 hyenas ate up all my buffalo "trek tows" one 

 rainy night at Erasmus River (six mile spruit), while 

 I was on my way to Natal and I had to delay some 

 days while I got others from Pretoria, but I had my 

 revenge. I have often shot hyenas in the bush-veld 

 in the moonlight, while sitting under the wagon 

 or sometimes under my shooting pony to hide 

 myself, but if you hit one badly the rest rush on to 

 the killed or wounded one, and eat him up on the 

 spot. Next morning there is nothing but hair and 

 blood on the ground. Alex and I amused ourselves 

 one moonlight night near the Olifant River for a 

 couple of hours, shooting them and watching the 

 rest devour them. The howl of these ceatures in the 



