FATAL ENCOUNTER WITH LIONS 123 



swaying of the bushes the Masai saw that the 

 animal was working its way into a dense part 

 of the thicket, so they thought it best to leave 

 it in hope that it would soon die from its wounds. 



"The beaters worked around behind the 

 wounded lion, as they supposed, and again com- 

 menced to beat the brush for other lions. They 

 had not given the spearmen time to properly 

 distribute themselves since the last encounter, 

 however. Only one man had reached the far 

 side of the thicket when a deep, guttural growl 

 was heard. The next instant the wounded lion 

 bolted out of the brush close to the solitary 

 spearman and, catching sight of him, threw 

 up its tail and charged. 



"The Masai, crouching behind his shield, his 

 spear poised in the air, waited until the brute 

 was almost upon him, then with a gentle flirt 

 of his wrist he sent the keen-bladed weapon 

 into the lion's shoulder and out on the opposite 

 side, fully eighteen inches. The lion struck the 

 uplifted shield and, reaching over it, seized the 

 man by the shoulder and the two sank to the 

 ground. 



"Had the other spearmen been present to 

 follow up the attack, the man's life might have 



