172 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



without hesitation into the ravine and did not 

 emerge. 



This was a disappointment. We concluded 

 she must have entered the stream bottom, and 

 were just about to move when Memba Sasa 

 snapped his fingers. His sharp eyes had dis- 

 covered her sneaking along, belly to the ground, 

 like the cat she was. The explanation of this 

 change in her gait was simple. Our companions 

 had rounded the corner of the hill and were 

 galloping in plain view a half-mile away. The 

 lioness had caught sight of them. 



She was gliding by, dimly visible, through thick 

 brush seventy yards distant. Now I could make 

 out a tawny patch that faded while I looked ; now 

 I could merely guess at a melting shadow. 



" Stir her up," whispered Hill. " Never mind 

 whether you hit. She'll sneak away." 



At the shot she leaped fully out into the open 

 with a snarl. Promptly I planted a Springfield 

 bullet in her ribs. She answered slightly to the 

 hit, but did not shift position. Her head up, her 

 tail thrashing from side to side, her ears laid back, 

 she stood there looking the landscape over care- 

 fully point by point. She was searching for us, 

 but as yet could not locate us. It was really 

 magnificent. 



