heap and blew. There was a glow, a flicker, and then
a flare. In the reflection he saw dimly a patch of white, then
another patch next it. This roused him, so that he set all the four
fires going again, and, with his rifle ready, he stood up to see
what manner of visitors these were with the white marks.

He had heard slight noises as he fed the fires, and now the reeds
rustled, but he could see no living form. Sitting down, he laid a
few handfuls of reeds ready to each fire, then waited with shaken
nerves, for there was something mysterious about this visitation.
The fires flared up and sunk back to red embers, and yet there was
no sign. The embers took on a covering of grey ash, then the
rustling began anew, and the white objects reappeared. He turned his
head, and saw that they stretched right round! What the dickens were
they? He strained his sight, and, at first indistinctly and then
clearly, he saw the gleam of eyes above each white patch. Softly he
laid a few reeds on the embers, and as they crackled he saw one of
the white objects move. As the flame mounted up, he made out an
animal with round ears and brindled hide, staring nervously at the
fire. It was a wild-dog! Only a dog, and with a "shoo!" he thought
to scare the creature off. The yellow eyes went from the fire to his
face, a red tongue slithered out over the black nose, and the dog
sat down again. All round were the white breasts of the pack, as
they sat in silence and stared. He searched about for a missile,
found an empty cartridge, and threw it. A dog leapt up and sniffed.
The circle seemed to close in.

He shouted at them, and they gave back a yelp, but never stirred.

"All right," he said grimly, then aimed at a white breast and fired.
The pack scattered into the reeds; there was a beating and kicking
noise, followed by a wild rush, a savage snarling and snapping of
teeth. Dog was eating dog; and, with a feeling of disgust and
contempt, he prepared himself to rest. A little later the white
circle was complete again, and the silent inspection was continued.
This got on his nerves, and, springing over the fire with his rifle
clubbed, he gave two sweeping blows. The dogs slipped away from his
front, only to reappear with threatening growls on his flank. He
leapt back to safety and fired; but the light was bad, and he
missed. Piling on a few more reeds, he emptied his magazine rapidly,
facing all parts of the circle, and making some hits, as he judg