74 
BOY HUNTERS. 
were great allies of mine. They showed as mueii 
ardour in the chase as any naturalist, nor could a 
legion of Ariels have served their master Prospero 
better than these dusky inr|^)s did me. 
"When, with their narrow gleaming eyes, they saw 
me discard the disjecta membra ” of the great 
black copris, the dung of the buffalo was forthwith 
scattered to the winds, and dozens of the living 
beetles were disentombed and brought to me. 
They kneAv the haunts of skink, mouse, bird, and 
beetle. Did I desire an ant-lion ? They were 
immediately under the oolam trees, blowing away 
the sandy soil with their breath, till they spied the 
lurking lion in his den, hiding in a Iiole on one 
side of the pitfall, his long poweiful jaws being just 
visible in the centre. As they scratched him out 
they sang a little ditty ap2>ropriatc to the occasion. 
Did I want a frog ? A slight pencil sketch of the 
creature was shown them, and off scampered these 
pig-tailed Ariels, returning in ten minutes with as 
many frogs as would feast a dozen Frenchmen. In- 
fants of tender years would join in the sport, and 
