352 TO THE UASIN GISHU [ch. xii 



ended a scene of as fierce interest and excitement as 

 I ever hope to see. 



The Nandi marched back by themselves, carrying the 

 two wounded men on their shields. We rode to camp 

 by a roundabout way, on the chance that we might see 

 another lion. The afternoon waned, and we cast long 

 shadows before us as we rode across the vast, lonely 

 plain. The game stared at us as we passed ; a cold 

 wind blew in our faces, and the tall grass waved cease- 

 lessly ; the sun set behind a sullen cloud-bank ; and 

 then, just at nightfall, the tents glimmered white through 

 the dusk. 



Tarlton's partner, Newland — also an Australian, and 

 as fine a fellow as Tarlton himself — once had a rather 

 eerie adventure with a man-eating lion. He was camped 

 near Kilimakiu, and after nightfall the alarm was raised 

 that a lion was near by. He came out of his tent, more 

 wood was thrown on the fire, and he heard footsteps 

 retreating, but could not make out whether they were 

 those of a lion or a hyena. Going back to his tent, lie 

 lay down on his bed with his face turned toward the 

 tent wall Just as he was falling to sleep the canvas 

 was pushed almost into his face by the head of some 

 creature outside ; immediately afterward he heard the 

 sound of a heavy animal galloping, and then the scream 

 of one of his porters, whom the lion had seized and was 

 dragging off into the darkness. Rushing out with his 

 rifle, he fired toward the sounds, shooting high ; the lion 

 let go his hold and made off, and the man ultimately 

 recovered. 



It has been said that lions are monogamous and that 

 they mate for life. If this were so they would almost 

 always be found in pairs, a lion and a lioness. They 

 are sometimes so found, but it is much more common 



