With Flashlight and Rifle ^ 



neigh shows that several other herds of these beautiful 

 animals are in the neighbourhood. Away they gallop 

 over the hard ground of the velt to a distant place of 

 refuge. Darkness has now set in and obliges me to 

 relinquish my post of observation. 



As I return to the camp the darkness of night has 

 fallen. It is not long, however, before it is quite clear, 

 and a most beautiful moon shines magically over the 

 sleeping steppes. Jackals give out their querulous call 

 and the hyaena's unlovely laugh is to be heard. 



.Now I hear the impallas whinnying. A leopard roars 

 not far from the camp. Then for several minutes all is 

 still again. Once more the neighing of the zebras is 

 heard as they resume their wild scamper ; but at present 

 we wait in vain for the most thrilling concert that human 

 ear can wish for. It is scarcely ever to be heard before 

 midnight. 



By the tracks and trails I had discovered I knew that 

 at least thirty lions must have taken up their nightly 

 quarters somewhere in the neighbourhood. Owing to 

 the nature of the ground and the very thick undergrowth 

 in this region I had not yet had an encounter with the 

 king of beasts. But I waited patiently, for I wanted 

 more than the passing view the hunter considers himself 

 lucky to get. It was my intention to photograph His 

 Majesty at night time. To do this I had to wait patiently 

 and learn the customs and haunts of the animals in this 

 spot. 



It was not without reason that the herds of wild 

 beast roamed round and about during the night. I knew 



132 



