nd him.

I awoke, to find myself leaning against the entrance at the end of our
hut. The fire was very low, a few glowing embers alone remaining. The
night was dark. As I looked round me, trying to open my eyes wide, what
was my dismay to see numerous pairs of shining orbs gazing at me through
the gloom! That they were the eyes of wild beasts I was convinced,
though of what description I could not tell. The usual night sounds of
an African forest alone reached my ears. The eyes seemed to be drawing
nearer and nearer; and now suddenly a chorus of loud sharp barks and
snarls burst forth, and by the faint light cast by the fire I could see
a number of animals approaching the spot. I now guessed that they were
wild dogs, a species of hyena, which hunt in packs like wolves; or
perhaps true hyenas, and would prove, I dreaded, formidable assailants.
Through the gloom I saw just then another body, which I guessed was a
second pack arriving, thus causing the angry remonstrances of the first.
A pile of firewood lay near me. I threw some of the sticks on my fire,
hoping, if it blazed up, they would not attempt to pass it. My gun I
had ready by my side; but as I could only kill one at a time, I was
afraid, should I begin the assault, I should find it a hard matter to
drive them off. I did not like to wake Natty; indeed, in his weak state
he would have been of little assistance. The effect of throwing the
sticks on the fire was, at first, to dull it, and I was afraid I had put
it out altogether. This made the creatures draw still nearer. I rose
to my feet and stood at the door of the hut, resolving, should they
come, to defend my young companion to the last. If they seized me, I
knew that my fate and his would be sealed. The brutes kept rushing
backwards and forwards within a few yards of the fire, growling and
yelping furiously. I was surprised that the noise did not awake Natty.
His sleep, doubtless, was produced by utter exhaustion. I was afraid,
however, that if I fired, Natty would be startled. I therefore called
out to him, "Do not be alarmed when you hear the report of my rifle!
Natty! Natty! awake!" I called out several times. I began to fear
that he was senseless, or even that worse had happened. "Natty! my dear
Natty! what is the matter?" I again shouted out.

The effect of my voice was what I had not expected, for my savage
assailants on hearing it began to retreat to a more respectful distance.
I