394 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



near the camp ; so near that we could easily hear 

 the deep breath they would take after each roar. 

 There was a little moonlight, but not sufficient to 

 disclose their whereabouts. My men were very 

 anxious to procure w^ater from the stream, but 

 seemed loath to set out in quest of it. We waited 

 at least half an hour, but although the lions did not 

 seem to approach any nearer, they continued their 

 magnificent roarings. I think they had just finished 



At the Head-waters of the Mackenzie 



a hearty meal, and so did not care whether they 

 warned us of their proximity or not. At length, 

 seeing that they were unlikely to leave us that night, 

 I got the men together, and told them to take sticks 

 and beat their water-bottles loudly, as they went to 

 the stream. They demurred, and said they preferred 

 to do without water that night. After a little per- 

 suasion they set out, at first in a hesitating manner, 

 all of them beating their water-bottles vigorously, and 

 giving vent to half-hearted yells; but as they ad- 

 vanced, the chorus swelled sufficiently to drown the 



