284 AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 



different tribes, even where widely separated. This cara- 

 van had been followed by lions; and a day or two after- 

 ward Kermit and Tarlton ran into what were probably 

 these very lions. There were eleven of them: a male with a 

 heavy mane, three lionesses, and seven cubs, some of them 

 about half grown. As Kermit and Tarlton galloped after 

 them, the lion took the lead, the cubs coming in the middle, 

 while the three lionesses loped along in the rear, guarding 

 their young. The lion cared little for his wives and off- 

 spring, and gradually drew ahead of them, while the two 

 horsemen, riding at full speed, made a wide detour round 

 the others in order to reach him; so that at last they got 

 between him and the ten lionesses and cubs, the big lion 

 coming first, the horsemen next, and then the lesser lions, 

 all headed the same way. As the horsehooves thundered 

 closer the lion turned to bay. Kermit whose horse had 

 once fallen with him in the chase and Tarlton leaped 

 off their horses, and Kermit hit the lion with his first shot, 

 and, as it started to charge, mortally wounded it with a 

 second bullet. It turned and tried to reach cover, and 

 Tarlton stopped it with a third shot; for there was no time 

 to lose, as they wished to tackle the other lions. After a 

 sharp gallop they rounded up the lionesses and cubs. 

 Kermit killed one large cub, which they mistook for a 

 lioness; wounded a lioness which for the time being es- 

 caped; killed another with a single bullet from his 30-40 

 Winchester for the others he used his .405 Winchester 

 and hit the third as she crouched facing him at two hundred 

 yards. She at once came in at full speed, making a most 

 determined charge. Kermit and Tarlton were standing 

 near their horses. The lioness came on with great bounds 



