TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 141 
the place at all. But it may have used the din to its 
own advantage. 
The night grew very dark, and for a wonder, as the 
midnight hours drew near, it got intensely cold. The 
mosquitoes did not bother me in the least, though they 
were present in hundreds. I was completely fastened 
in, and only had a peep hole for my rifle which covered 
the goat. 
I heard a lion roar once, and after a little came a 
strange lowing sound, most weird and eldritch. I had 
never known it before, but I judged a leopard was hunt- 
ing. My senses being completely awake, I peered 
through the darkness at the goat. It was most ridicu- 
lous. It was impossible even to see it. The whole 
place was in inky darkness. I waited, shivering, and 
next moment I distinctly heard the crunching of bones 
and the tearing of flesh. The leopard, or hysena, had 
come without a sound. I could not fire when I could 
see absolutely nothing to fire at. Bang ! came from 
Cecily’s zareba, and was followed by a choking gurgle. 
“ I’ve got him, don’t you think ? ” called out Cecily 
from her enclosure. 
We dared not venture out, and remained there until 
in the early hours some of our men arrived to let us 
free. But as it grew light I could see the shadowy 
form of a great leopard lying prone on his victim. 
We investigated as soon as possible, and found that 
Cecily had got him through the head. This was, of 
course, a mere fluke, for she says she only fired after 
she and Clarence had sighted and just as the darkness 
seemed to lift in the very slightest. She did not see 
