CHAPTER X 



A DESERT NINCOMPOOP 



BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-M-M!" My friend, on 

 safari for the first time, threw a startled look 

 out into the black African night. Beyond the narrow 

 cylinder of our camp-fire's glare, the green eyes of big 

 preying cats shone at intervals. A heavy body 

 rustled through the bush. A hyena laughed hys- 

 terically on the rise behind us and was answered 

 by another cackle of his species in a little donga 

 near by. 



' ' Boom-boom -boom-m-m ! ' ' 



My friend reached out and gripped my arm. For 



a moment I thought the night had got him. It does, 



you know, when you are not used to Africa; when 



you realize that half a dozen lions are out there a 



stone's throw from where you are sitting, their long 



tails slashing in murderous irritation at man's fire 



which they dare not face; that a shadowy leopard 



is slinking in yoiu* tent's short shadow for a closer 



look ; that an ill-tempered rhino may be at that very 



moment on his way to investigate the human 



intruders. 



172 



