

GIVE UP THE SEARCH. 167 



death. However, no one under the circumstances 

 could be angry with him, when they remembered 

 that it was sheer pluck that prompted him to desire 

 to undertake such a hazardous enterprise. Even 

 Donna, our invaluable and lady-like pointer, must 

 look into the cavity the leopard had entered, and 

 but that a rheim was placed through her collar, 

 and by it was forcibly dragged off, she would doubt- 

 lessly have attempted further exploration. 



The big cat had beaten us. Do what we liked, 

 we could not alter the case ; so we gave it up with 

 a very bad grace. 



There still remained another cover in which 

 the lion was known to occasionally take his siesta, 

 particularly if he had made a kill in its vicinity. 

 It was a tangled covert of very thick reeds and 

 grass, almost an acre in extent, situated at the 

 end of a small vley. As it was dry, and a sharp 

 breeze was blowing, the most effectual and expe- 

 ditious course was determined upon, viz. to set it 

 on fire. No sooner said than done. In ten minutes 

 the flames had consumed the whole, even to the 

 last blade. Still, not a sight of the game we sought 

 was obtained. 



The old chief assured me that there was now 

 no use in looking further for the lion, for when it 

 did not demand board and lodging from him, it 

 usually did from another kraal a few miles distant. 

 So we called up our horses, and with the kindest 



