Page 63 - Adventures in Africa

He had been absent for some time, and as I felt
that a short walk would do me good, I took my gun,
intending not to go far from the camp, I had some

hopes that I might come across an antelope or deer
during my short excursion. I of course took good
care to keep a look-out on either side, lest I should be
surprised by a lion or a leopard, the animals mostly

to be feared in that region, It was not impossible
that I might fall in with an elephant, but 1 had no

intention of attacking one if I did, and should have
ample notice of its approach, so that I might keep out
of its way, I had gone about a quarter of a mile or
so from the camp, and was thinking of turning back

when I reached a tree which I found I could easily
climb, as the remains of branches stuck out almost
close to the ground. I got up for the sake of taking

a survey of the country around, and especially over
that part of it we had to travel the next morning. I
found my lofty seat very pleasant, for I was well

shaded by the thick foliage over head, while a light
breeze played among the leaves, which was refreshing
in the extreme. I had some difficulty in keeping

awake, but I endeavoured to do so fearful of letting
go my gun, or, perhaps, of falling to the ground my­
self. I did my best not to fall asleep, by singing
and by occasionally getting up and looking around

me.
The tree grew, I should have said, on the side of a

bank, with a w-ide extent of level ground to the east­
ward, dotted over with thick clumps of trees, some
large enough to be called woods \ while nearer at
hand, on either side of me, the vegetation wras more