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 



