f of our hut thicker than usual, in the hope of
keeping out the water should the rain come down. In spite of my fears,
neither did the storm break, nor did we receive a visit during the night
from our canine neighbours. Natty was greatly fatigued by his long
journey; and from the way he talked in his sleep, I was afraid that the
fever had again returned on him. This made me resolve, should he not be
better in the morning, to remain there another day. My worst
apprehensions were fulfilled. But still it was satisfactory to be near
the water, so that I might obtain as much as we required.

We remained two whole days. Though we several times heard the roars of
the lions, I did not see them. Each day I made a trip to the pool, and
took a refreshing bath, which greatly restored my strength. Natty
declared that he was now ready to proceed. Having obtained in the
evening some more birds from my preserve, as I called it, we went on in
the morning in the same direction as before. Natty, however, was still
very weak, and I saw that the next day we should make but little
progress. We were now again in a completely open plain, the only trees
being far away in the horizon, though the mountains rose up in the
north-west, towards which we were proceeding. The signs of a storm
again appeared, and I was afraid that it would break upon us where no
shelter could be obtained. Push on therefore we must, as long as Natty
could continue moving. I gave him a lift every now and then, very much
against his will; indeed, it was only by persuading him that we could
thus get on faster, that he would allow me to carry him. Soon the wind
began to blow in fitful gusts, and heavy drops of rain fell. I
constantly looked behind me, dreading every instant that the deluge
would burst upon us. "It will kill poor Natty, I fear," I could not
help saying to myself. Presently the rain began to descend more
heavily, and clouds collected, and flashes of lightning darting from
them went zigzagging over the ground. Just then I caught sight in the
distance of what looked like a low clump of trees. I directed our
course towards it, taking Natty up and running along as fast as I could
move. Although I well knew that it is dangerous to take shelter in a
thunderstorm under a tree, I hoped to be able to obtain wood and leaves
to build a hut by which Natty, at all events, might be partly sheltered.
I saw, as I got nearer, that the grove consisted chiefl