I 



JUMPING HARES 



them, bringing them to a standstill, so that it would 

 be quite a simple matter to photograph them by 

 flash-light. I agreed readily enough. It did not take 

 long to make our preparations. I fastened the flash-lamp 

 on to Clark's head, the battery being strapped round 

 his chest. The camera, of course, I carried myself, 

 whilst Goby walked beside me with the famous 

 acetylene lamp. 



We had not gone more than two or three hundred 

 yards before I saw the eyes of a jackal gleaming in 

 the darkness, and a moment later I thought I discerned 

 the eyes of a jumping hare. Instantly I told Clark 

 to press the button of the flash-lamp. 



There was the usual bhnding glare ; then, as soon 

 as I could see at all, I made out what I took to be 

 one of Goby's " mesmerised hares." Someone shouted, 

 " Run, Kearton, and catch him ! " I dashed forward 

 and seized — a tin can ! I had actually photographed 

 the end of that wretched derelict tin in mistake for 

 a hare ! And they knew it ! 



It was a long time before they ceased to chaff me 

 about the incident, and to suggest it was I who had 

 been mesmerised. 



Still, as a matter of fact I really did get some 

 photographs of jumping hares that same night, a proof 

 that the insinuations were unfounded. 



I ultimately succeeded in obtaining a flash-light 

 photograph of a maneless lion, after waiting for six 



139 



