466 The Hunting Grounds 



and, although I heard the lions roar at a distance, 

 I saw nothing on either of them. I twice heard a 

 hog pass during the night, but it was very dark, and 

 I could not get a shot. I also heard the cry of a 

 hyena, and several packs of jackals. 



Tuesday, 23rd. I returned to the douar early in 

 the morning, and made a breakfast of eggs and 

 gallets (a kind of wheaten cake made of flour and 

 milk, and baked on an iron plate). Shot three hares 

 and a brace of partridges for food, and strolled about 

 the jungle until near sunset, when, having made a 

 game-dinner, I took post in the same place as last 

 night, and, about ten o'clock, I heard the unmis- 

 takeable sounds which told me the king of beasts was 

 afoot. 



At first the sound appeared to come from the 

 bottom of the ravine, but afterwards it seemed much 

 nearer, and I lay very still on the qui vive, fully 

 expecting I should hear his footsteps before long, 

 though the night was so dark that I hardly hoped to 

 get a fair shot. I lay listening for nearly an hour, to 

 no purpose, when suddenly I heard him roar on the 

 hill behind the place where I was posted, though 

 how he got there I do not know. The night was 

 very dark and showery, but as I had first-rate arms, 

 and a Cording' s waterproof-sheet to keep all dry, I 

 did not fear any miss-fires. I remained at my post 

 on the crest of the hill until nearly three o'clock in 



