The tracks of lions, hyenas, and jackals, made everything clear enough.

A large troop of these animals had been upon the ground.
The scarcity of game, caused by the migration of the locusts, had no doubt rendered them more than usually ravenous, and in consequence the cattle became their prey.
Where were they now?
The morning light, and the sight of the house perhaps, had driven them off.

But their spoor was quite fresh.

They were near at hand, and would be certain to return again upon the following night.
Von Bloom felt a strong desire to be revenged upon the hideous brutes; and, under other circumstances, would have remained to get a shot at them.

But just then that would have been both imprudent and unprofitable work.