THE LION— KING OF BEASTS 



lopes, calmly grazing. Farther to the north we saw count- 

 less numbers of zebra and antelopes of different kinds, 

 and toward the south and west, big herds of wildebeests 

 and other game. . . . 



On the way back to the rock, whither we decided to re- 

 turn for another survey of the land, after I had bagged a 

 cheetah and a topi, I saw an unusually large white-bearded 

 gnu which I also secured, and when we finally arrived on 

 top of the hill again, I discovered two lions, due south from 

 us, both resting, and fully stretched out on the ground. 

 Now followed a still more interesting chase than the one a 

 couple of days before, as this lion was even more " gamey " 

 than the other. 



*' Repeatedly it turned and charged so suddenly and 

 quickly at the horse, that it looked as if it would catch 

 up with Asgar; but a few moments later the tables were 

 turned and we found Asgar chasing the lion. So it went 

 on for half a dozen times at least, until we succeeded in 

 coming so close to the lion that it caught sight of us. 



" Instantly the beast made for me in a bee line. Before 

 the lion had come even within one hundred yards the 

 gun bearers begged me to shoot. But, enjoying the looks 

 of the beautiful oncoming beast with its enormous flut- 

 tering mane, I let it come, calling out to ' his majesty ' in 

 Ki-Swahili : * Karibu mzee, karibu,' which means, ' Come 

 on, old man, come on.' And on it came! Oh, had my 

 camera bearer only been up beside me now, what a mag- 

 nificent picture I should have obtained! 



" Again the men begged me to shoot, but as I was sure 

 of my aim and my gun, I let the lion come on until within 

 thirty yards or less, when I fired, the bullet hitting squarely 



39 



