168 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



On the 16th I hunted on the plains to the northeast, 

 killing one springbok, and at night I watched the dis- 

 tant vley to the northward of my camp, and got a 

 fright which I shall remember to ray dying day. Soon 

 after the moon rose, a troop of wildebeests came with- 

 in range ; at one of these I fired, and he dropped to the 

 shot, the ball passing through the spine. A little after 

 this I discharged my other barrel at a large spotted 

 hyaena, and then I returned my rifle to its holster with- 

 out loading either barrel, and presently I was asleep. 



I had not slept long when my light dreams were in- 

 fluenced by strange sounds. I dreamed that lions were 

 rushing about in quest of me, and, the sounds increas- 

 ing, I awoke with a sudden start, uttering a loud shriek. 

 I could not for several seconds remember in what part 

 of the world I was, or any thing connected with my 

 present position. I heard the rushing of light feet as 

 of a pack of wolves close on evfery side of me, accom- 

 panied by the most unearthly sounds. On raising my 

 head, to my utter horror I saw on every side nothing 

 but savage wild dogs, chattering and growUng. On 

 my right and on my left, and within a few paces of me, 

 stood two lines of these ferocious-looking animals, cook- 

 ing their ears and stretching their necks to have a look 

 at me ; while two large troops, in which there were at 

 least forty of them, kept dashing backward and forward 

 across my wind within a few yards of me, chattering 

 and growling with the most extraordinary volubility. 

 Another troop of veild dogs were fighting over the wilde- 

 beest I had shot, which they had begun to devour. On 

 beholding them, I expected no other fate than to be in- 

 stantly torn to pieces and consumed. I felt my blood 

 curdling along my cheeks and my hair bristling on my 

 head. However, I had presence of mind to consider 



