Evening star., 1896-12-26

stood us in good stead now. and Trayers
seemed hardly ever at fault in making his
way toward the stream. which was the OBJ
ject Of our journey. Our progress was slow,
1t Is true, as we stumbled over the rough
bowlder-strewn slopes and made our way
through the low, scrubby growths that be-
set our path; but at last we rounded the
shoulder of the Kopje, the general outline
of which we were just able to make out In
the darkness. and began to descend toward
the stream, the sound Of which we could
hear coming up to us out Of the deeper
shadows. We couldn't feel sure that we
had reached 1t exactly at the right spot,
but, judging of the character Of the descent
toward the banks and the outline of the
rocks that rose overhead, we felt pretty
certain that we were not far wrong.
We were still in plenty of time. for. look
ing anxiously at the sky. we could not see
a sign of the expected uoonrise. This will
be good spot, Hall. I think" Travers
whispered to me, as We came to a halt at
the foot of a huge. rugged bowlder half
sunk IN 1.-THE. the ground: You can hear the
out the gleam Of stars reflected down there.
Anyhow, this rock will make a good shelter
till we get more light
"An right" l whispered in reply. 81 see
nothing moving yet; do your
Hold on bit. The nights young. I
don't expect they'll begin to come much be-
fore the sky grows lighter, and that won't
be yet awhile. should say by the look Of
1t was slow work waiting. We burst not
talk, and we couldn't venture to smoke, In
case the smell might scare away the game.
The night was dark and intensely still.
There was not a breath of wind to stir a
leaf. and not a sound reached us but the
soft. slow gurgle Of the water as it eddied
past. 1t was so still that II either OF US
moved ever so little the other would start
as If something had happened. There was
nothing to be done but to lie and wait, and
under the circumstances there are few
things more trying to the nerves than wait
ing.
Perhaps half an hour had passed in this
way when I pushed Travers cautiously
could hear something at last.
"Hush!' he replied, in an excited whisper;
keep stili, man, for your hfe-hear them" +"
1 obeyed him, and we lay still and listen
ed. 1t was curious sound. One soft,
cautious football after another seemed to
come up in a whisper out of the darkness
below us, and sometimes we seemed to hear
soft brushing still closer at hand, as If
something pushed gently through the grass.
By and by, as l strained my eyes to peer
into the shadows below. could either see,
or fancy saw, darker shadows that moved
In the darkness, and, as l watched more
eagerly still, strange, ghostly forms seemed
to fit back and forward in the hollow and
more than once a little splash told where
some animal had stepped into the stream.
My companions hand upon my arm warned
me to control my excitement, and again
contrived to wait.
How long it was I cannot tell, but I
know 1t seemed to me like hours before
there came a gradual change GRADUALLY
very gradually, the shadows seemed to
grow thinner and less black in the hollow
below, and as I glanced anxiously upward
could see that the change below was only
the reflection Of that overhead. The deep
violet blue of the sky had faded to a light
er tint of grayish blue, and the stars that
had shone so brightly had grown faint and
smoky; CLEANS Of pearl gray seemed to
shift and wander overhead, and each
change reflected itself on the sensitive
shadows below-it was growing light.
could make out something at last Lit
tie by little, the phantom shadows 1 had
imagined rather than seen moving in the
darkness, grew substantial and resolved
themselves into antelopes and other ami
mails, some of which were strange to me, In
spite OF my three months hunting in South
Africa. looked eagerly for signs of larger
black antelope, there was nothing particu-
larly attractive.
Not much hope of a lion, I'm afraid"
1 whispered to Travers. as my eyes ran
eagerly over the game that was in sight.
Patience for bit" he whispered back,
laying his hand on my arm. In the very
act he paused, his head half raised in the
attitude of listening. What's that. Ha1l?''
Don't you hear something?" My head
was close to the ground, resting on my
arm, and suddenly as he spoke I heard
something; could 1t be the distant sound Of
lions growl? The idea flashed on my
mind, but it was for moment only No, 1t
was not a growl, whatever it was. 1t was
not loud, but 1T seemed to creep along the
ground, low and threatening. The sound
was regular and beat on the ear with the
orderly vibrations Of pulse. raised my
head and looked at T-avers in the dim gray
light. His eyes were looking into mine
and his grip mad closed little more tight
q RIM hfo ava
ed to be absorbed in the effort to hear AL
most involuntarily 1 glanced once more
into the shadowy hollow below, and 1 could
see at glance that We were not alone in
Cur surprise. 1t was evident that the game
had heard the sound, and 1t seemed equally
clear that, like ourselves, they were at a
loss to understand it. Each head was lift
ed, as il to listen; each animal paused as
II III the enort to comprehend. Like our
selves. they were at loss-like ourselves,
they waited.
The noise grew louder and more distinct,
yet to me, at any rate, it was as unac-
tremble with strange, short puIsations
such as had never felt before-could 1t be
an earthquake? I was about to suggest it,
when TraVers raised his hand as II to warn
seconds facing one another. each resting on
his elbow, each gazing questionfngly into
the others face.
''Ah!' Travers whispered at last letting
Ills ldHu ulOp " Ills SiUe, nave AS
he spoke there was sudden movement
below lis; the animals had been as quick as
my companion-they also had made up their
minds. 1t was like a Transformation scene
Even as looked at them they vanished,
and the river gorge was gray, and silent,
and lifelcss in a moment. It would have
been startling at any other time, but at the
moment barely noticed it.
What Is 1t, Travers, in the name of all
that's puzzling?' I asked my companion.
1 spoke in louder tone than I had yet
used, and 1t evidently alarmed Travers,
for he replied in a low but impressive
voice. For Gods sake keep quiet, HALF
This is serious, man. Lie down and keep
close"
Suiting the action to the word, he drew
himself more closely under the huge rock
that overhung the spot, and crouched low
%%a&
81. [AIx,,lE