208 AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS 



boy — and crawling on my stomach, I began slowly to draw nearer, 

 and the flatness of the country helped me in that the nearer I got 

 the less advantage did the hill give the lions. Occasionally the 

 lioness would look up but of course, we at once jammed our 

 noses in the ground and kept stock still, and a friendly kongoni 

 discovering them asleep distracted her attention and the sun com- 

 ing out she got sleepy again and finally rolled over once and for 

 all. Doubtless to the crocodile, the python and the puff adder, 

 to say nothing of the subordinate government ofl&cial or the 

 baksheesh seeking gunbearers, a recumbent position may be both 

 the natural and comfortable one for locomotion, but I grow old, 

 rheumaticky and stiff, and what with the blazing sun, swarms of 

 ticks, thorns, etc., etc., I should have been thankful if early in 

 the game the Hons had cleared out — as it was, begun in a spirit 

 of pure curiosity, as the distance slowly but surely lessened be- 

 tween us, I felt as if the whole of my future depended upon besting 

 them and I think if necessary I would have stayed out all night. 

 However, the longest lane ends at last and finally I got them so 

 beat that I rose to my knees within 80 yards of them, and having 

 thoroughly got my breath — crawling winds me terribly — I care- 

 fully wiped the dust off my foresight, saw the other rifle-sight was 

 clean, drew a steady bead on the biggest of the lions — and not 

 fancying a shot at them lying flat on the ground, I "tschissted" 

 in what I flattered myself was an exact imitation of the kongoni 

 which had been puffing at them for so long. I did it very softly — 

 but those sleeping lions were on their feet and saw me about one 

 second — ^just one second — too long for the biggest lion who got 

 it on the point of the shoulder as he raised himself. I gave him 

 another which decided him to leave and then swung on to the 

 other lion, who went head over heels to the shot, but was up and 

 at me like a streak — whereupon his mate joined in. This was 

 bad luck as between them they gave me so much trouble that 

 by the time I had killed them the lioness and cub were out of 

 range. They were two fine big fellows, but as customary with 

 Athi lions, almost maneless. I wish Kermit could have been there 

 — it was the most difficult interesting stalk I've ever made. I 

 took the time and found it was just 3 130 P. M. so I think I earned 

 my trophies. 



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