-* By the Stream 



that the hartebeests, and perhaps also the shy oryx and 

 huge elands, had come to the water. But all these 

 animals feared their arch-enemy, the lion, who lay hiding 

 among the reeds in waiting for their arrival. 



The rays of the moon glimmered softly, reflecting 

 here and there the white blocks of quartz that were to 

 be found among the rocks in the vicinity of the camp. 

 More and more animated became the life and movement 

 of the animal crowds in the neighbourhood of the stream ; 

 I seemed to have a foreboding I might almost say I 

 felt what was about to happen. There ! What was that ? 

 We were not deceived. It was the earth-shaking, inde- 

 scribably impressive roar of the lion ! Almost immediately 

 several other lions join in the chorus ! As if reverberating 

 from the very bowels of the earth the mighty sound 

 swells stronger and fuller, sinking at last into a weird 

 low rumble that strikes the soul of man with terror. 



He who has listened night after night, as I have, 

 in a fragile tent to whole herds of lions roaring with all 

 the power of their great lungs, will not fail to admit that 

 it is an experience not easily surpassed ! 



For one moment the whole night-world seemed to 

 listen to the voice of its lord ; then, all around, one 

 heard again the sound of animals betaking themselves 

 in terror to the velt. Later, tortured by thirst, they 

 returned once more to the stream to find some other 

 drinking-place. 



I have never seen more than seven lions together. 

 Here by the river I could tell by the sound that there were 

 as many, for they gave their grand nightly concert from 



i ^ 



