SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO 61 



in the jungle ; but, bewildered and baffled, I envied the instinct 

 of the so-called brutes, which, careless of their steps, were never- 

 theless quite sure of their ways. Twilight near the tropics is 

 very short. Just before the sun set, therefore, I followed a 

 game track which I knew would lead to water, as it was still 

 early in the season, and the rain supply had not yet dried up 

 in the hollows. At dusk I reached a pool similar to the one I 

 had quitted in the morning. After a good draught I began 

 collecting firewood, but for once it was very scarce, and the 

 night closed in so rapidly, that a bare hour's supply was all my 

 store. Partly to save fuel, and partly in the hope that as the 

 night crept on signals would be made from the waggons, I 

 climbed a tree which stood by the side of the water, and had 

 not been long perched before I heard, though so far off that I 

 could hardly catch the sound, the smothered boom of guns. 

 Alarmed at my absence my companions suspected the cause, 

 and were inviting my return : but it required a very pressing 

 invitation indeed to induce a man to walk through two miles 

 of an African wood in those days on a dark night. 



This particular spot, too, was more infested with lions than 

 any other, save one, I was ever in ; and, though harmless and 

 cowardly enough as a rule in the day, they were not likely to 

 prove very acceptable followers at night. But I had been walking 

 all day under a tropical sun, my clothing was wet with per- 

 spiration, and it now froze hard for freeze it can in Southern 

 Africa and I was bitterly cold. I determined to come down 

 and light my fire. I knew it would last but a short time, 

 but thought I would make the best of it, and thaw myself 

 before attempting to return. I got to the lowest bough 

 of my tree, and had placed my hand beside my feet before 

 jumping off, when from the bush immediately under me a 

 deep note, and the sound of a heavy body slipping through 

 the thorny scrub, told me that a lion was passing. Whether 

 the creaking of the tree had roused his attention and caused 

 him to speak so opportunely I don't know, but without 

 the warning, in another half-second I should have alighted 



