218 THE LION KILLER. 



tracks of the beast ; being a whole course of instruction in 

 venery. 



I had learned that instead of going across country, like 

 other wild animals, he followed the beaten trail. 



I had learned, to my own cost, that he preferred the living 

 animal for his food to any dead body, no matter how conve- 

 niently placed. 



I had heard and studied the tones of his voice, and the 

 meaning of his roar. 



I had learned that he would follow his own road, no mat- 

 ter what men might do to prevent him, and, lastly, I had 

 learned that many leagues were to him the course of an even- 

 ing's promenade. 



I can hardly tell what I had not learned in that one night, 

 and what a horizon of anticipations had opened before my 

 eyes. Hereafter, no more close and cowardly blinds ; no 

 more baiting with dead animals, whose taint sickened the 

 night air ; no more posts arranged beforehand, whose unvari- 

 able dullness tired the hunter's patience; but instead of all 

 that, hereafter there would be the walk by the full of the 

 African moon, and the sudden meeting of pursuer and pur- 

 sued by the forest lake, or the mountain road, and at last the 

 one brave tete-a-tete, so long desired, with no obstacle 

 between me and the lion. 



It was with all these anticipations and souvenirs crowding 

 on my mind, that I regained the camp at a later hour than 

 ordinarily. 



On the next day, while I was sitting in the Cafe Maure, 



