TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 141 



the place at all. But it may have used the din to its 

 own advantage. 



The night grew very dark, and for a wonder, as the 

 midnight hours drew near, it got intensely cold. The 

 mosquitoes did not bother me in the least, though they 

 were present in hundreds. I was completely fastened 

 in, and only had a peep hole for my rifle which covered 

 the goat. 



I heard a lion roar once, and after a little came a 

 strange lowing sound, most weird and eldritch. I had 

 never known it before, but I judged a leopard was hunt- 

 ing. My senses being completely awake, I peered 

 through the darkness at the goat. It was most ridicu- 

 lous. It was impossible even to see it. The whole 

 place was in inky darkness. I waited, shivering, and 

 next moment I distinctly heard the crunching of bones 

 and the tearing of flesh. The leopard, or hyaena, had 

 come without a sound. I could not fire when I could 

 see absolutely nothing to fire at. Bang ! came from 

 Cecily's zareba, and was followed by a choking gurgle. 



" I've got him, don't you think ? " called out Cicely 

 from her enclosure. 



We dared not venture out, and remained there until 

 in the early hours some of our men arrived to let us 

 free. But as it grew light I could see the shadowy 

 form of a great leopard lying prone on his victim. 

 We investigated as soon as possible, and found that 

 Cecily had got him through the head. This was, of 

 course, a mere fluke, for she says she only fired after 

 she and Clarence had sighted and just as the darkness 

 seemed to lift in the very slightest. She did not see 



