200 AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS 



get ahead; for goodness sake stop them." We were still galloping, 

 and till that moment had never thought of anyone else interfering 

 so that I felt certain that we had both lions collared and safe, and 

 should hold them till the whole party came up. I could see no 

 one else in sight besides the two who had appeared so suddenly 

 upon the scene. I yelled waved and blew my whistle as hard 

 as I could; but Grey, who must both have seen my frantic efforts 

 and heard the noise, paid not the slightest attention, and to my 

 surprise I saw him gaining rapidly on the rear lion, Howard Pease 

 coming across to me in response to my screams and signals. 

 Still, I never dreamt that Grey was going Hterally to try and ride 

 them down and was more annoyed than anything else that the 

 lions were being pressed up the hill just as we had begun to turn 

 them down it. Then Hill called out, *'Grey is getting too near." 

 What happened next all took place in about 4 seconds and as 

 quick as you can think and see. I put the facts down as they 

 flashed on me — 



Moment i. Grey galloping hard 100 yards directly at the 

 tail of the rear lion, the other lion some 60 to 80 yards ahead of 

 the rear lion. 



Moment 2. The rear lion whipped round and stopped (as 

 did the other) for a moment. Grey 80 to 90 yards directly below 

 him on the hill side. 



Moment 3. The lion charged at once. 



Moment 4. Grey leapt from his pony in a flash and stood in 

 shooting attitude all in the same moment, the lion then say 

 40 yards from Grey. (Hill is positive that Grey dismounted be- 

 fore the charge began). 



Moment 5. Lion at 25 yards, ist shot from Grey. No effect. 



Moment 6. Lion at 5 yards. 2nd shot immediately after 1st. 

 No effect. 



That is what I saw in say 4 seconds of time. 



This is what happened on our side — 



Hill cried out to me at moment i, some despairing exclama- 

 tion, such as, "My God they will have him for a certainty," and 

 leaping from his horse said "shoot him, shoot him." 



At the moment i I was bewildered with horror, and hearing 

 Hill's appeal "to shoot" pulled up dead and had got to the 



