142 After Big Game in Central Africa 



away, I send there for something to eat, for my field- 

 glass, and for a blanket to pass the night in. 1 I keep 

 only Msiambiri with me. We take care to keep 

 away from the zebra, because the lions must not be 

 put on their guard and suspect that a trap is being 

 set for them by scenting our tracks near their 

 game. 



I examine the surroundings. They are excellent 

 as a place for shooting, the country being fairly open, 

 and the moon will be almost at its full this evening ; 

 but there is not the smallest tree against which to 

 lean one's back, not the smallest mound which will 

 allow us to hide ourselves. We must, therefore, 

 make a small entrenchment; and, without losing time, 

 we go to cut some trees which are a certain dis- 

 tance away. We will decide on a place afterwards. 

 Our companions soon return and assist us, but night 

 is falling and we are unable to cut sufficient trees to 

 shelter all six of us. Therefore, I send three men to 

 perch in a tree 60 yards away ; the two others re- 

 maining with me at the edge of the pool. We hastily 

 construct, with stakes fastened together at the top, a 

 kind of conical hut, which we cover with grass and 

 earth, making it resemble a termites' ant-hill. Night 

 has fallen when the watch begins, and each one is 

 at his post. 



I profit by this interval of rest to swallow hastily 

 some riz au lait, a full saucepan of which Bertrand 

 has sent me, food which I generally take with me 



1 The temperature at night from June to September is low in com- 

 parison with that of the day i.e., only 51 to 59. 



