CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.
A HELPLESS BEAST.
"What was to be done?
How was I to avoid both enemies?
If I leaped down, the wildebeest would kill me to a certainty.

He was still there, with his fierce eye bent upon me continually.

If I remained where I was, I would soon be covered with the swarming hideous insects, and eaten up like an old rag.
"Already I felt their terrible teeth.

Those that had first crawled to my feet I had endeavoured to brush off; but some had got upon my ankles, and were biting me through my thick woollen socks! My clothes would be no protection.
"I had mounted to the highest part of the cone, and was standing upon its apex.

It was so sharp I could scarcely balance myself, but the painful stings of the insects caused me to dance upon it like a mountebank.
"But what signified those, that had already stung my ankles, to the numbers that were likely soon to pierce me with their venomous darts?
Already these were swarming up the last terrace.