92 
the afternoon we made a short march to our old camp, 
where we found the ostrich eggs ; their shells which we 
had hidden in the sand were all safe, but the skull of the 
zebra which we had placed in a tree was gone, though 
the skin was stiU there. "We had to leave the saddle and 
bridle that the dead pony carried at our last camp, as the 
heads, &c., were of more consequence to carry on. Next 
morning we were up early for another march, and I had 
been looking forward to a lift on our remaining pony, 
Dumpling," but the poor beast had done his last day's 
work, and we found him unable even to get up from the 
ground though still alive. I did not like to kill him, 
though perhaps it would have been kinder, and so we left 
him to his fate, probably a passing lion or panther. Poor 
old ^^Jack," too, was evidently very weak, and in a 
deplorable condition, and I felt his turn might come any 
day, and that every day's march was of consequence while 
he could still struggle on with E. Left another saddle and 
bridle behind. I found some difficulty in walking, but 
like an old screw managed to keep going after making a 
start. Passed by one of our old camps. While on the march 
Dubois and I, who were a little a-head of the rest, came 
suddenly upon two lions huddled up together under a tree 
in such an extraordinary looking mass, that at first we could 
not make out what they were ; and as I could not get a 
satisfactory shot I waited till they got up, which they did 
upon perceiving us, but trotted off at once, and never 
stopped to give me a chance until they were out of sight. 
I was much disappointed at not having a shot, as this was 
my only chance during the trip ; but it, perhaps, was as 
well I did not fire, as E. and the rest of the cavalcade 
were coming on close behind, and a wounded lion and his 
mate might have been ugly customers amongst us. We 
walked to-day for six hours and a half, and the sun being 
very hot were glad to rest on getting into camp. Spring- 
