150 After Big Game in Central Africa 



will die. Two of us will, therefore, remain here and 

 smoke a pipe, while the four others are gone to camp 

 and have brought back some Bengal lights. I write 

 to Bertrand by the light of a match to ask him for 

 them, and for straw and some assagais. A few 

 additional men will bring firebrands. 



As soon as our companions are gone and every- 

 thing has become silent, we hear, twice, in the direction 

 of the plain a noise like a complaint. Is it a night 

 bird or else a hyena on its round ? We cannot say. 

 The noise is not repeated. Almost an hour passes 

 without incident. The moon begins to decline, 

 and it is perhaps one o'clock in the morning when 

 voices and firebrands announce the approach of 

 reinforcements ; our men have returned. 



We set out in front with torches to follow the 

 traces of blood, and from time to time I have a 

 Bengal light raised on the end of a stick, lit behind 

 us to light up the plain, which I explore with my 

 glass. Fortunately for us, fire has cleared every- 

 thing away with the exception of a few stunted trees 

 and withered plants. 



Blood is abundant but intermittent, and we have 

 the greatest difficulty in following the traces. This 

 group of men with torches, these dazzling lights 

 brilliantly illuminating the trees and the details of 

 the plain for a certain distance, whilst the remainder 

 of the landscape is in shadow, produce a strange 

 effect : one would say it was some culminating point 

 in a melodrama, and I do not think the lion has been 

 often hunted under these conditions. Not to wish to 



