AFRICAN CAMP FIRES 



low fifty-foot cliffs that marked a plateau land. 

 Between the plateau and the ranges from which we 

 had descended was a sort of slight flat valley through 

 which meandered the forest trees that marked the 

 stream. 



We turned to the right and marched an hour. 

 The river gradually approached the plateau, so 

 leaving between it and the ramparts a considerable 

 plain, and some low foothills. These latter were 

 reported to be one of the feeding grounds of the 

 greater kudu. 



We made a most delightful camp at the edge of 

 great trees by the stream. The water flowed at the 

 bottom of a little ravine, precipitous in most places; 

 but with gently sloping banks at the spot we had 

 chosen. It flowed rapidly over clean gravel, with 

 a hurrying, tinkling sound. A broad gravel beach 

 was spread on the hither side of it, like a spacious 

 secret room in the jungle. Here too was a little 

 slope on which to sit, with the thicket all about, 

 the clean, swift little stream below, the high 

 forest arches above, and the inquisitive smaller 

 creatures hovering near. Others had been here 

 before us, the wild things, taking advantage of the 

 easy descent to drinking water — eland, bufi'alo, 

 leopard, and small bucks. The air was almost cloy- 

 ingly sweet with a perfume like sage-brush honey. 



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