88 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 
composed of four poles stuck into the ground and 
inclined towards each other at the top, where a 
plank was lashed to serve as a seat. Further, as 
the nights were still pitch dark, I had the donkey’s 
carcase secured by strong wires to a neighbouring 
stump, so that the lions might not be able to drag 
it away before I could get a shot at them. 
At sundown, therefore, I took up my position on 
my airy perch, and much to the disgust of my gun- 
bearer, Mahina, I decided to go alone. I would 
gladly have taken him with me, indeed, but he had 
a bad cough, and I was afraid lest he should make 
any involuntary noise or movement which might 
spoil all. Darkness fell almost immediately, and 
everything became extraordinarily still. The silence 
of an African jungle on a dark night needs to be 
experienced to be realised; it is most impressive, 
especially when one is absolutely alone and isolated 
from one’s fellow creatures, as I was then. The 
solitude and stillness, and the purpose of my vigil, 
all had their effect on me, and from a condition of 
strained expectancy I gradually fell into a dreamy 
mood which harmonised well with my surroundings. 
Suddenly I was startled out of my reverie by the 
snapping of a twig: and, straining my ears for a 
further sound, I fancied I could hear the rustling of 
a large body forcing its way through the bush. 
‘“The man-eater,” I thought to myself; ‘surely 
to-night my luck will change and I shall bag 
