Hunting in Many Lands 



and with the bright moon every object was 

 as easily distinguished as by day. The fresh 

 meat proved an awkward load for my men, and 

 we frequently were forced to stop while one 

 or the other re-arranged the mass he carried. 

 They were very cheery about it, however, and 

 kept shouting to one another how much they 

 would enjoy the morrow's feast. Their shouts 

 were answered by the mocking wails of many 

 hyenas, who hovered on our flanks and rear 

 like a pursuing enemy. I shot two of these 

 beasts, which kept their friends busy for a while, 

 and enabled us to pursue our way in peace. 



This white plain reaches nearly to the shores 

 of Ngiri Swamp on the north, and to the 

 east it is bounded by a wall of densely thick 

 bush. We had approached to within 400 

 yards of the point where the line of bush joins 

 the swamp, when I noticed a small herd of 

 wildbeest walking slowly toward us, coming 

 from the edge of the swamp. A few moments 

 later, a cry escaped from my gun-bearer, who 

 grasped my arm and whispered eagerly, simba. 

 This means lion. He pointed to the wall of 

 bush, and near it, crawling on its belly toward 

 the wildbeest, was the form of a lion. I 

 knelt down and raised the night sight of my 



46 



