CH. Ill] A MANET.ESS LION 71 



wounded, and we finished them off; even if unwounded, 

 they were too bi^ to take aUv e. 



This was a great disappointment, and as it was well 

 on in tlie afternoon, and we had beaten the country 

 most apt to harbour our game, it seemed inilikely that 

 we would have anotlier chance. Percival was on foot 

 and a long- way from his house, so he started for it ; and 

 the rest of us also began to jog homeward. But Sir 

 Alfred, altliougli he said nothing, intended to have 

 another try. After going a mile or two, he started off 

 to the left at a brisk canter ; and we, the other riders, 

 followed, leaving behind our gun-bearers, saises, and 

 porters. A couple of miles away was another donga, 

 another shallow watercourse, with occasional big brush 

 patches along the winding bed, and toward this we 

 cantered. Almost as soon as we reached it our leader 

 found the spoor of two big lions ; and with every sense 

 acock, we dismounted and approached the tirst patch 

 of tall bushes. We shouted and tlu-ew in stones, but 

 nothing came out ; and another small patch sliowed 

 the same result. Then we mounted our horses again, 

 and rode toward another patch a quarter of a mile off. 

 I was mounted on Tranquillity, tlie stout and quiet 

 sorrel. 



This patch of tall, thick brush stood on the hither 

 bank — that is, on our side of the watercourse. We 

 rode up to it and shouted loudly. The response was 

 immediate in the shape of loud gruntings and crasli- 

 ings through tlie thick brush. We were off our horses 

 in an instant, I throwing the reins o\er tlie head of 

 mine ; and without delay the good old fellow began 

 placidly grazing, quite unmoved by the ominous sounds 

 immediately in front. 



I sprang to one side, and for a second or two we 



