286 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



the sheep was no longer there. After that, what a 

 weary night. We did not care to risk getting out, and 

 there was no good to be done in staying in. The dawn 

 broke at last, falsely at first, and dark gray shadows 

 fell again to flee away before the all conquering sun, 

 who rose in splendour, gilding the lofty ranges with 

 tips of gold and red. 



We pushed our way out, not waiting for the men to 

 come and let us free, and the whole show, unable to 

 hold up any longer, fell over with us. It was very 

 badly put together, and would have been a pantomime 

 protection in case of stress. We were dishevelled 

 looking before, and worn out for want of sleep, but we 

 were objects by the time we had fought our way from 

 out the collapsed " machan." We followed the pugs 

 of the leopard till they disappeared in impenetrable 

 bush. He had taken his victim to a safe stronghold. 

 But we weren't to be worsted so easily. When Clarence 

 appeared we asked him the best plan for dislodging the 

 cat, who must be gorged now, and a little overdone. 

 Our shikari said he would order some of the men out 

 and try to beat the place. I asked him to take the 

 •35 Winchester himself, and use it if he could. Then 

 began a lively morning. The men beat the place with 

 their spears in sort of flying rushes, dashing forward, 

 then dashing back, and at last, as we really made the 

 radius of the place smaller, we heard a continuous 

 snarling, like that a domestic cat makes when it has 

 a mouse in its paws, only this was much more vicious 

 and sounding louder. 



I stood close to the jungle, and Clarence begged me 



