470 The Hunting Grounds 



and we tracked them on horseback for some distance, 

 until the sun had nearly gone down. 



We then made the best of our time to get to the 

 douar, where the Caid received us very hospitably, 

 and offered us food, which we declined, as we had 

 already dined. 



We had not been more than half-an-hour in the 

 encampment when the roar of a lion was distinctly 

 heard, and shortly afterwards we heard another 

 answering in the distance. 



The Caid sent his French servant and two Arabs 

 with us to a small clearing near the douar, where, he 

 said, the lion had been seen prowling about for three 

 nights previous. 



On arrival we found two Arabs posted in a tree for 

 the chance of a shot, should the lion make his appear- 

 ance. As we imagined that they might "make 

 game " of us in the dark, we ordered them down and 

 sent them back with the French servant and the 

 other Arab to the douar. We then carefully recon- 

 noitred the ground, and took up our post behind a 

 bush in the centre of the plain, from whence we 

 could see all around. The moon was rising fast, and 

 the night was beautifully fine, and almost as light as 

 day. We heard a lion and lioness roaring near, and 

 at times a third answering in the distance. 



We remained until nearly 1 1 P.M. waiting impa- 

 tiently for his appearance, but he did not come 



