CHAPTER FORTY TWO.
THE GUN-TRAP.
It was about this time that the field-cornet and his people were very much annoyed by beasts of prey.

The savoury smell which their camp daily sent forth, as well as the remains of antelopes, killed for their venison, attracted these visitors.

Hyenas and jackals were constantly skulking in the neighbourhood, and at night came around the great nwana-tree in scores, keeping up their horrid chorus for hours together.
It is true that nobody feared these animals, as the children at night were safe in their aerial home, where the hyenas could not get at them.
But for all that, the presence of the brutes was very offensive, as not a bit of meat--not a hide, nor rheim, nor any article of leather--could be left below without their getting their teeth upon it, and chewing it up.
Quarters of venison they had frequently stolen, and they had eaten up the leathern part of Swartboy's saddle, and rendered it quite useless for a while.

In short, so great a pest had the hyenas grown to be, that it became necessary to adopt some mode of destroying them.
It was not easy to get a shot at them.

During the day they were wary, and either hid themselves in caves of the cliff or in the burrows of the ant-eater.