her more like hyenas. I
suspect that they are spotted hyenas, which are among the fiercest of
the race; and though I believe they seldom attack a man on his guard, I
do not know what they might do if they found us asleep. They are said
to have an especial liking for human flesh, and I know that in some
parts where they are numerous, they frequently carry off the children
from villages. I have heard it said that they will even steal
noiselessly into a hut at night, and drag a sleeping child from under
its mother's kaross or rug, so that the first intimation she has of what
has occurred is from the cry of her infant as it is borne away in the
jaws of the monster. They will sometimes break into villages, leaping
over high palings; and so great is their strength, that they will carry
off any animal they find loose. In one respect, however, they are of
use, as they act as scavengers, and clear the neighbourhood of villages
of the carrion which they find scattered about. This makes it necessary
to protect graves, by raising over them piles of thorns, or of the
prickly-pear, as they will otherwise scrape away the earth to reach the
newly-interred corpse."

"Horrid creatures!" said Natty, shuddering. "I do not think I could go
to sleep if I thought that any were likely to pay us a visit."

"I do not know that they would be more formidable than the dogs we have
already encountered," I remarked. "Indeed, I believe these dogs are
their cousins, if not their brethren; for though complete dogs, as to
the character of their skulls and teeth, they have, like the hyenas,
only four toes on the front feet. However, I hope we may be able to
take precautions which will guard us from any annoyance those brutes out
there are likely to offer, should they be hyenas or simply hyena-dogs,
such as the visitors to our late camp. There is a wood, I see, on the
left; we must try and push through it, and build our house on the other
side."

On went the herd of buffaloes, and were soon lost to sight across the
plain. As we went on, I looked back every now and then to see if the
hyenas were following us; but though I fancied that their heads were
turned in our direction, they perhaps could not make out what we were,
and at all events remained in their fortress. I should have preferred,
however, being further off from them at night. While preparing our
camp, the sky gave indications, I feared, of a coming storm. I
therefore made the roo