450 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



encampment when the roar of a lion was distinctly 

 heard, and shortly afterwards we heard another 

 answering in the distance. 



The caid sent his French servant and two Arabs 

 with us to a small clearing near the douar, where, 

 he said, the lion had been seen prowling about for 

 three nights previous. 



On arrival we found two Arabs posted in a tree 

 for the chance of a shot, should the lion make his 

 appearance. As we imagined that they might 

 "make game" of us in the dark, we ordered them 

 down and sent them back with the French servant 

 and the other Arab to the douar. We then care- 

 fully reconnoitred the ground, and took up our post 

 behind a bush in the centre of the plain, from 

 whence we could see all around. The moon was 

 rising fast, and the night was beautifully fine, and 

 almost as light as day. We heard a lion and 

 lioness roaring near, and at times a third answering 

 in the distance. 



We remained until nearly eleven p.m., waiting 

 impatiently for his appearance, but he did not 

 come. 



A lynx was crying close to us, and a pack of 

 jackals twice rushed howling across the clearing, 

 but the lion was still far off as ever, as we could tell 

 from his voice. 



His roar seemed to come from a low and densely- 

 wooded hill about half a mile's distance. We held 

 a short consultation, and agreed to follow up by the 



