i 88 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



This was the signal for a tremendous stampede ; 

 but, instead of it being directed from the point of 

 danger, it was concentrated around the chief, Cigar, 

 and myself, who were close together. That the 

 bullet had hit the object it was aimed at I had no 

 doubt, for I heard the ominous thud that ever truly 

 tells that the bullet has hit the target it was intended 

 for. However, we soon knew that it was not fatal, 

 for the curs that led the advance immediately 

 dashed into the cover and disappeared, soon after 

 to give us warning where they were by their 

 vociferous yelping at some description of prey two 

 hundred yards to our front, where a jumble of rocks 

 and masses of upturned clay, covered with parasitic 

 creepers, formed just such a sanctuary as a wounded 

 enemy of this description would choose to seek 

 cover in. The pluck of these dogs gave the others 

 courage, and they now rushed forward, the whole 

 pack making a row that would have been sufficient 

 to waken the dead, if there had been any 

 secreted in that locality. Cigar said it was the 

 lion he fired at. One of the chiefs head men 

 asserted he had seen the brute, and he was sup- 

 ported in his statement by a Bushman who was in 

 the immediate vicinity. A second advance was now 

 made, but when we reached where the dogs were 

 baying, a certain amount of irresolution was cha- 

 racteristic of the whole party. I confess I did not 

 care about entering this labyrinth, with rocks, briars, 



