CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
A HOUSE AMONG THE TREE-TOPS.
Von Bloom now reflected that the hyenas were likely to prove a great pest to him.

No meat, nor anything, would be safe from them--even his very children would be in danger, if left alone in the camp; and no doubt he would often be compelled to leave them, as he would require the older ones upon his hunting excursions.
There were other animals to be dreaded still more than the hyenas.

Even during that night they had heard the roaring of lions down by the vley; and when it was morning, the spoor showed that several of these animals had drunk at the water.
How could he leave little Truey--his dear little Truey--or Jan, who was not a bit bigger--how could he leave them in an open camp while such monsters were roving about?
He could not think of doing so.
He reflected what course he should pursue.

At first he thought of putting up a house.

That would necessarily be a work of time.