THE PLAINS. 95 



bounds, and he will break out into that diabolical laughter so seldom heard in nature. 

 Several jackal, too, must be pacing up and down, or running forward to look at the 

 kill and running back again at intervals. They also will be all impatience. The wind 

 dies down and all is still again ; at intervals, however, a freshening of the breeze from 

 some quarter of the plains brings with it some distant bark or howl. These sudden 

 sharp cries and sounds coming over the plains seem to intensify the dead silence 

 between whiles and make it all the more profound. This silence, as if no living 

 thing was moving, is misleading, for now is the time of greatest activity amongst 

 most animals. Many, indeed, whose very existence is hardly realised during the day, 

 now come forth from their retreats. The little antbear is busy running from termite 

 hill to termite hill and burrowing with frenzied energy. The porcupine is trotting up 

 some pathway leading off the plains and into the little red hills, tilled and hoed by the 

 hand of man, that he may pass the night in the cultivations, an unwelcomed visitor. 

 The serval is prowling round on the look-out for rats and mice and patrolling 

 paths and game tracks, as these at night are thoroughfares for many of the smaller 

 mammals. The long-teethed ground-rats, the mole of these parts, are busy 

 burrowing and most of the game is grazing. The whistle of the owl can be 

 heard passing overhead, for he, too, is on the look-out for the various mice, rats, 

 and shrews of the plains. The giant-rat has come out from the stream-bed and 

 is ferreting about after dainties. The spotted-necked otter has left the swamp 

 and is wandering down the banks of the stream. It is difficult to recognise some 

 of the more distant sounds coming over the plain. Nearer to the river we hear 

 the occasional grunt of the otter and the louder gruntings of the hippos. 



After a chorus of gruntings there is a great splashing, as they wade through 

 the shallower water to reach land. Then a breaking of twigs and rushes, as they 

 push through the undergrowth of the river bank to get to the thick reeds and 

 grass beyond. After this all is quiet in their neighbourhood except for an 

 occasional cracking of twigs, as one of them moves in the undergrowth. If you 

 were nearer you would hear the comfortable sounding scrunch, scrunch of their 

 great jaws. Presently there is a general movement among the game and then 

 a stampede upwind. Blind old kongoni is left behind. As we hear the grunt, 

 grunt of the pursuing lions we trust that they will not fail to see him. Meanwhile 

 the kongoni runs round and round in circles, imagining that he is making tremendous 

 progress. The grunting stops and there is a scuffle, so we know that now we are 

 safe and so settle down to graze and sleep during the rest of the night with light 

 hearts, for now both parties of lions are provided for. So the cold night gradually 

 passes as we keep packed close together for warmth and protection. About 



