THE LIONS OF TANGANYIKA 99 



tree where the native cook of the Norwegian party 

 was now unpacking his kettles and pans. Tlie lay of 

 the land was such that for many generations hons had 

 followed down a depression and crossed the donga at 

 this point. Water remained here longer than elsewhere 

 and there was always a certain amount of game near by, 

 which attracted migrating troops of Hons. Yes, it was 

 a very good position for contact with the jungle king I 

 That night my viking friend was unable to sleep. 

 Whether his trouble was due to the weird sounds of 

 the African night or to the unaccustomed viands he 

 had dined upon, I do not know. Anyway, he failed to 

 woo slumber and at length gave up the attempt and 

 went outside the tent to stroll about in the starlight. 

 So far, all was well — quiet reigned along the gloomy 

 donga. But, before leaving far-distant Norway, the 

 stroller had made what proved almost a fatal error; 

 for here he was walking about beneath the stars of 

 the African night in a suit of black-and-white pyjamas! 

 Suddenly he heard a sound as of galloping hoofs, and 

 presently made out in the distance a huge dark 

 form bounding toward him across the veldt. He 

 stopped still, curious to learn more about the identity 

 of this galloping form. In jig time he did learn, but 

 when the object became recognizable, he was too 

 frightened to move, standing frozen to the spot, while 

 a huge male Hon came rushing at him with the speed 

 of an express train. A few paces from the terrified man 

 the Hon skidded to a stop in a cloud of dust, regarded 

 the object in black and white uncertainly for a brief 

 moment and then, with a low growl of surprise or dis- 

 gust, or both, turned sloAvly around and trotted back 

 in the direction whence he had come. 



