But these were too big for us to move or cut.
Moreover, they were so soaked with damp, like everything in this forest, that it would be impossible to fire them.
The darkness closed in.

It was not absolute blackness, because presently the moon rose, but the sky was rainy and obscured it; moreover, the huge trees all about seemed to suck up whatever light there was.

We crouched ourselves upon the ground back to back as near as possible to the centre of the place, unrolled such blankets as we had to protect us from the damp and cold, and ate some biltong or dried game flesh and parched corn, of which fortunately the boy Jerry carried a bagful that had remained upon his shoulders when he was thrown into the canoe.

Luckily I had thought of bringing this food with us; also a flask of spirits.
Then it was that the first thing happened.

Far away in the forest resounded a most awful roar, followed by a drumming noise, such a roar as none of us had ever heard before, for it was quite unlike that of a lion or any other beast.
"What is that ?" I asked.
"The god," groaned the Kalubi, "the god praying to the moon with which he always rises." I said nothing, for I was reflecting that four shots, which was all we had, was not many, and that nothing should tempt me to waste one of them.