SHOTS AT UNKJVOJVN ANIMALS.

buffalo. We saw at once, that, with such a smell of flesh about, there was no chance of a buffalo or a giraffe approaching the water. They had already cut the flesh of the buffalo into strips, with which the bushes were covered. After discussing some luncheon inside the hollow trunk of an immense baobabtree, I sallied forth to try and secure an antelope as bait : after a long stalk I luckily shot a large bull This we dragged to within about forty yards of our shelter, where we proposed passing the night. Soon after dark we ensconced ourselves inside the ambush. The moon was very brilliant, and it was most exciting work watching for the lion we hoped might appear. Our first visitors consisted of three little jackals ; and we heard them barking in the bushes, very like dogs, some time before they ventured to approach the water. When they did appear, we did not disturb them ; but watched them as they drank at the well, and tore at the carcase, barking all the while. When they had eaten and drunk their fill, they took their departure ; and in about ten minutes more a far larger animal made its appearance. We took it to be a leopard or a panther. Lort Phillips fired, but unluckily missed ; and the animal, uttering an angry growl, scampered off into the bushes. We cursed our bad luck, and decided that next time we would both fire together. Another quarter of an hour had barely elapsed, before the same animal returned. Both fired ; it stood still for a second, and we feared we had missed again. Then it made for the bank, which, we could hear by its cries, it was not able to ascend, and it lay all night in the khor. We felt sure that the leopard, or whatever it might be, was mortally wounded, as we could occasionally hear it groan ; and we felt confident that we should secure it in the morning.

Another hour of anxious watching, and what we took for a lion made its appearance.