64 LION-HUNTING [ch. hi 



Instantly that his back was turned, the lioness, who had 

 really been in the first clump of brush, raced out after 

 him, threw him down, and bit him again and again 

 before she was driven off! One night we camped at the 

 very spot where, a score of years before, a strange 

 tragedy had happened. It was in the early days of the 

 opening of the country, and an expedition was going 

 towards Uganda. One of the officials in cliarge was 

 sleeping in a tent with the Hap open. There was an 

 askari on duty ; yet a lion crept up, entered the tent, 

 and seized and dragged forth the man. He struggled 

 and made outcry ; there was a rush of people, and the 

 lion dropped his prey and bounded off. The man's 

 wounds were dressed, and he was put back to bed in his 

 own tent ; but an hour or two after the camp again 

 grew still the lion returned, bent on the victim of whom 

 he had been robbed ; he re-entered the tent, seized the 

 imfortunate wounded man wnth his great fangs, and 

 this time made off with him into the surrounding dark- 

 ness, killed and ate him. Not far from the scene of 

 this tragedy another had occurred. An English officer 

 named Stewart, while endeavouring to kill his first lion, 

 was himself set on and slain. At yet another place we 

 were shown where two settlers, Messrs. lAicas and 

 Goldfinch, had been one killed and one crippled by a 

 lion they had been hunting. They had been following 

 the chase on horseback, and being men of bold nature, 

 and having killed se\ eral lions, had become too daring. 

 They hunted the lion into a small piece of brush, and 

 rode too near it. It came out at a run, and was on 

 them before their horses could get under way. Gold- 

 finch was knocked over, and badly bitten and clawed ; 

 Lucas went to liis assistance, and was in his turn 

 knocked over, axid the lion then lay on him and bit him 



