84 THE LION KILLER. 



had seen the panther about noon, drinking from a brook near 

 the rocks. I immediately followed my man to the brook ho 

 spoke of, and without any trouble I distinguished the foot- 

 prints of my friend among the numerous trails that crossed 

 and recrossed the brook in every direction. Judging from 

 the age of the foot-prints, and what had been seen by the 

 Arab, I -came to the conclusion the panther was in the habit 

 of leaving her retreat with the noon-day heat (which in the 

 African wilds, is an hour of solitude and rest to all the world, 

 when man and herds alike, retire to sleep), and coming to the 

 brook to drink and refresh herself. 



The brook was shaded by trees, and hidden .by thickets 

 on every side, so that I could conceal myself, and have a near 

 shot at her ladyship, when she stopped to drink. I acted on 

 this plan, and in a moment was hidden in the dense thicket, 

 with my view bounded on every side by the woods, which 

 grew to the water's edge. Towards noon a perfect silence 

 reigned in the woods, as though nature had fallen asleep in 

 the sultry stillness. An occasional bird, or insect, would 

 move by stealth, but slowly, as though languid with heat. 

 Presently a covey of red partridges loitered down to the water 

 to drink ; as the hens were raising their panting bills with 

 their first mouthful of water, the cock manifested signs of 

 anxiety, and gave the call of alarm, and in a moment they 

 had taken flight. 



I watched for the cause. In a moment more a branch 

 moved, but without noise, and then I saw the panther gliding 

 lithely through the cover to the water's edge. Here she 

 paused with her head turned aside, and her foot in air, like a 

 pointer dog. 



