58 HAKMONIES. 



antelopes, are crossed and recrossed by those of the great 

 padding paws of huge lions. The hunter observes the 

 paths, and selecting a spot, digs a hole in the earth just 

 large enough to allow him and his Hottentot attendant to 

 lie down in. He places his bedding in it, and prepares to 

 spend his nights there. About sunset he repairs to his 

 strange bed, and, with the sparkling stars above him, and 

 silence deep as death around him, he keeps his watch. 



Soon the stillness is broken by many sounds. The 

 terrible roar of a lion is heard in the distance ; jackals 

 are heard snorting and snarling over a carcase ; a herd of 

 zebras gallops up toward the fountain, but hesitates to 

 approach ; then a pack of wild dogs is heard chattering 

 around. By and by, a heavy clattering of hoofs comes 

 up the valley, and on sweeps a vast herd of wildebeest ; 

 the leader approaches the water, when the hunter's rifle 

 sends a ball through him, and he falls dead on the 

 bank. 



The herd disperses in terror; and presently a lion utters 

 an appalling roar from a bushy ridge just opposite, which 

 is succeeded by a breathless silence. 



A quarter of an hour elapses. A peculiar sound causes 

 the hunter to lift his head, when he sees, on the opposite 

 edge of the pool, a huge and majestic male lion, with a 

 black mane which nearly sweeps the ground, standing 

 over the dead wildebeest. He seems suspicious; and 

 stooping to seize the carcase, drags it up the slope. 

 Again the intrepid watcher points his trusty rifle, and 

 the tawny monarch sinks to the shot. At length with a 



