104 SAVAGE SUDAN 



only a few minutes before. At the very point where, 

 in heavy bush, we had lost the spoor, the lion, we now 

 found, had turned sharp to the right, while we had cast 

 round by the left ; such is the narrow margin that divides 

 success from failure. Of course we took up the spoor 

 again, but knew that our star had set. While following 

 this spoor, it was curious to notice that at intervals along 

 its course we passed groups of gazelles quietly grazing. 

 These must have seen the great beast of prey pass along 

 only a few minutes before, yet clearly had taken no alarm 



ROAN ANTELOPE. 

 The Bull on the right is watching a Gazelle which we had unwittingly disturbed. 



or notice of any kind. The previous year I had observed 

 a somewhat similar incident in these same forests, but a 

 little further north. 



It was now midday and horribly hot shade- 

 temperature 1 08 and we were seeking a shade-tree 

 for lunch. For some time Baraka had been puzzling 

 out a big heart-shaped spoor that in the hard ground I 

 could not distinguish but which he called "JBurroo" Now 

 I may here interpolate (with heartfelt emphasis) that a 

 grave handicap to all hunting in these wild lands springs 

 from the fact that not one word at critical moments can 

 one exchange with one's trusty companion. The Arabic 

 names of all game I had learnt by heart, but burroot 



