Cautiously and guardedly I open my mosquito curtains, intending to seize the nearest weapon of defense. I reason with myself. A toad is attracted by the water in my bathroom, a rat has scented out my traveling-biscuits, mosquitoes and moths are tryint to work their way through my curtains, a vampire bat is hanging from the roof of my tent, crickets and grasshoppers are making themselves at home on my floor. The hissing subsides, and is succeeded by a melancholy moan. Yell is taken up by yell, howl by howl.
Awful sounds come from all directions.
Surely a number of peasants are being murdered in the adjoining fields. I am bound to get up and rush to the rescue. No, no, I remember. I saw a few jackals slinking about the camp in the evening. Once more I try to compose myself, disgusted with my silly sensitiveness.