TREKKING THROUGH THE THIRST 



183 



and gun-bearers. Gusts of rain blew in our faces, and grad- 

 ually settled into a steady, gentle downpour. Our horses 

 began to slip in the greasy soil; we knew the rain would 

 refresh the cattle, but would make the going harder. 



At one we halted, in the rain, for a couple of hours' rest. 

 Just before this we heard two lions roaring, or rather grunt- 

 ing, not far in front of us; they were after prey. Lions 



A halt 

 From a photograph by R. J. Cuninghame 



are bold on rainy nights, and we did not wish to lose any 

 of our horses; so a watch was organized, and we kept ready 

 for immediate action, but the lions did not come. The 

 native boys built fires, and lay close to them, relieving one 

 another, and us, as sentinels. Kermit and I had our army 

 overcoats, which are warm and practically water-proof; 

 the others had coats almost as good. We lay down in the 

 rain, on the drenched grass, with our saddle-cloths over 

 our feet, and our heads on our saddles, and slept comfort- 

 ably for two hours. 



