xiv FINDING THE MAN-EATERS' DEN 161 



the banks of the river. As we were making our way 

 slowly and painfully through the dense jungle, I came 

 across this well-trodden path, which appeared to lead 

 in the direction in which I wished to go, and as I 

 felt convinced that at any rate it would bring us to 

 the river somewhere, I followed it with confidence. 

 Our progress was now easy, and the track led 

 through fairly open glades where traces of bush- 

 buck and water-buck were numerous ; indeed once or 

 twice we caught glimpses of these animals as they 

 bounded away to the shelter of the thicket, warned 

 by the sound of our approach. In the end, as I 

 anticipated, the old rhino path proved a true guide, 

 for it struck the Athi at an ideal spot for a camping 

 ground, where some lofty trees close to the bank of 

 the river gave a most grateful and refreshing shade. 

 We had a delightful picnic, and my guests greatly 

 enjoyed their night in the open, although one of 

 them got rather a bad fright from a rhino which 

 suddenly snorted close to our camp, evidently very 

 annoyed at our intrusion on his domain. 



In the morning they went off as soon as it was 

 light to try their luck along the river, while I 

 remained in camp to see to breakfast. After an 

 hour or more, however, they all returned, empty- 

 handed but very hungry ; so when they had settled 

 down to rest after a hearty meal, I thought I 

 would sally forth and see if I could not meet 



M 



