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.He did not expect to have to use it, but he derived a feeling of security from the fact that it was there.As soon as the camp was ship-shape, Mishu announced his intention of making enquiries, and without further parley set off in the direction of the setting sun, which also happened to be the direction of the lake.A broad fold in the ground hid the actual water from view.Ginger watched him go, not without vague misgivings.This sort of thing was all very well for the Masai, who had been doing it all his life, he brooded.He wasn't exactly afraid of being left alone, for as far as he could see there was nothing to be afraid of; but like most people accustomed to living in a city he found there was something disconcerting in the fact that, although they were not to be seen, he was sharing the territory with some of the most dangerous animals in the world.Not to mention snakes, which he abhorred.In particular he had a wholesome respect for the black mamba, one of the, few venomous snakes that had a reputation for attacking on sight.He examined the ground around the camp closely for this highly efficient but unwelcome reptile.His feeling of uneasiness did not diminish when the sun dropped behind the horizon, leaving a still, sultry darkness, in possession of the scene.He wished he had asked Mishu how long he thought he would be away.Mishu himself had not mentioned it.Perhaps he didn't know, pondered Ginger, who tried to comfort himself with the thought that more people are killed in cities by motor-cars than by the wild beasts of.Africa.It was all a matter of familiarity.He understood the danger of taking chances with wheeled vehicles.Mishu understood the risks of colliding with lions, leopards and the like.An uneasy silence fell, so for something to do he lit a little fire, made a pot of coffee, and with his rifle handy had his supper of bread and corned beef.All remained quiet.The great African moon swung into the sky to touch everything with an eerie blue radiance.There was still no sign of Mishu.Three hours later there was still no sign of him, so, realising that he could not sit up indefinitely, he retired to the tent, closed the flap, and without removing, his clothes lay down in the hope of snatching some sleep—or at any rate, to get used to the sensation of trying to sleep with nothing between him and a possible maneater but a thin piece of canvas.In this he failed dismally.Far from getting any sleep he became more and more awake.He found himself listening, although for what he did not know.He soon reached the stage of fancying that he could hear stealthy movements outside.He had just convinced himself that it was all imagination when the hush was shattered by a sound so horrible that his skin turned gooseflesh, as the expression is.The silly part of it was, he knew what hadcaused it.He had heard it before, more than once, for the mournful howl of the spotted hyena, once heard is never forgotten.It is one of the commonest night sounds in most parts of Africa; but that does not prevent it from being the most bloodcurdling noise in all nature.It begins with a long drawn out moan, which rises until it ends in a wild shriek.This has been described as laughing.Ginger found it nothing to laugh at.The beast was evidently hanging about the camp looking for food, in the choice of which the hyena is not in the least particular.Anything from old bones to new boots will do.Ginger did not remember leaving anything outside so he paid no further attention to the beast.Presently the animal was joined by a companion; and together they made the night so hideous with their grunts, gurgles and cackles, that Ginger soon had enough of it The thought struck him that they might try their teeth on the tyres of the Auster.Muttering in his wrath he seized the first thing that he could lay his hands on, which happened to be a tin of condensed milk, and opened the flap.Seeing the beasts skulking ten yards away he flung the tin at them with a shout, whereupon they departed and did not return.He noticed that the fire had gone out, but he did not trouble to rekindle it.He did not go back to bed at once, but stood gazing across the moonlit expanse, which was impossible not to admire.Standing there, presently a movement on the skyline caught his eye.Focusing on it, he made it out to be a native, walking quickly.Naturally, at first he took it to be Mishu, who, in returning, had got slightly off his course
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