CH. Ill] A CHARGING LION 77 



Hill and I stationed ourselves on one side of this valley 

 or depression toward the upper end ; Pease took Kermit 

 to the opposite side ; and we waited, our horses some 

 distance behind us. The beaters were put in at the 

 lower end, formed a line across the valley, and beat 

 slowly toward us, making a great noise. 



They were still some distance away when Hill saw 

 three lions, which had slunk stealthily off ahead of them 

 through the grass. I have called the grass tall, but this 

 was only by comparison with the short grass of the dry 

 plains. In the depression or valley it was some three 

 feet high. In such grass a lion, which is marvellously 

 adept at hiding, can easily conceal itself, not merely 

 when lying down, but when advancing at a crouching 

 gait. If it stands erect, however, it can be seen. 



There were two lions near us — one directly in our 

 front, a hundred and ten yards off. Some seconds 

 passed before Hill could make me realize that the dim 

 yellow smear in the yellow-brown grass was a lion ; and 

 then I found such difficulty in getting a bead on him 

 that I overshot. However, the bullet must have passed 

 very close — indeed, I think it just grazed him — for he 

 jumped up and faced us, growling savagely. Then, his 

 I head lowered, he threw his tail straight into the air and 

 1 began to charge. The first few steps he took at a trot, 

 I and before he could start into a gallop I put the soft- 

 nosed AVinchester bullet in between the neck and 

 j shoulder. Down he went with a roar ; the wound was 

 I fatal, but I was taking no chances, and I put two more 

 I bullets in him. Then we walked toward where Hill 

 ' had already seen another lion — the lioness, as it proved, 

 j Again he had some difficulty in making me see her, 

 I but he succeeded, and I walked towards her through 

 the long grass, repressing the zeal of my two gun- 



