12 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



a good purpose by pointing out the retreat of the 

 leopard, which I at once took advantage of by 

 selecting a place of observation within easy range of 

 the ledge on which the cave opened, and which 

 ledge, by the way, was covered with bones of every 

 conceivable animal from the size of a rock-rabbit to 

 that of a klip-springer. 



" As the day was early and cool, I resolved to 

 wait till my foe came forth, which he was certain 

 to do as soon as the sun had got higher up in the 

 sky, for no animal loves to sun itself as much or 

 more protractedly. 



" A --black man has more patience in hunting 

 than a white man. I believe the reason of this is 

 that the former more often depends upon his 

 success for his dinner ; and again, a Kaffir's arms 

 and ammunition are not so good, so that they 

 seldom shoot till their game is within easy range. 



" The place I had selected was eminently suited 

 for the purpose, a flat detached rock, with sufficient 

 soil upon it to support a few dwarf straggling 

 bushes, through which I could see without being 

 seen, while the distance of its situation was less 

 than twenty paces from where the cat would be at 

 the time I fired at it. 



"So far well, and all seemed disposed to con- 

 tinue so, if it had not been for the blamed bavians, 

 which, having espied me, commenced to make such 

 a disturbance as would have raised the dead. To 



