king up, I saw the shadow of a creature moving some
fifty yards off; a second glance convinced me that it was a leopard.
The fire kept him at bay, but he stood gazing at me, and probably
scenting the odour of the roasted birds from afar. I saw him creep
nearer and nearer. I might have shot him, but might have missed, so
considering discretion the better part of valour, I caught hold of one
of the birds by the leg, and holding it in my mouth, I swarmed up to the
bough, where I was in perfect safety. I had before this fixed on a spot
where I could rest for the night, and at once made my way to it,
intending to start at daybreak the next morning. However, I could not
resist the temptation of watching the leopard. He walked round and
round my fire, but as long as it blazed up was afraid of approaching.
As, however, the flames sank down, and only the bright embers remained,
he made a dash at the portion of the birds I had left behind, and
gobbled them up in a moment. I then threw him the bones of the one
which I had been gnawing. He looked up very much surprised, wondering
where it came from. I was greatly inclined to shoot him, but there was
no object in doing so, as I should very likely only have wounded him,
and sent him off to die miserably. At last, finding there was nothing
more to be got, and possibly forgetting all about me, the leopard took
his departure. I slept as soundly up the tree as I did the previous
night, and coming down in the morning, immediately pushed forward in the
direction I had before been travelling. I was able to make good some
eight or ten miles before the air had become heated with the sun.
Another day passed so like the former, that I could scarcely distinguish
one from the other. Another evening was coming on. I fully expected by
this time to have reached my destination, but I had met with no
plantations, or any other sign to show that I was approaching an
inhabited spot, I therefore supposed that I must be still some way off.

I was travelling along when I heard the sound of voices--they were those
of females, several with baskets on their heads, while others were
busily employed in plucking wild fruits, which grew in abundance in an
open glade in the forest. Some thick bushes sheltered me from view. I
was thankful to see them, as I hoped that they belonged to the village
of Sanga Tanga, and that my long solitary journey was now nearly over.
Still I thought that should I appear