166 ROOSEVELT'S EXPERIENCE IN THE JUNGLE. 



he kept on straight down the middle of the river-bed. The sun had 

 come out from behind the clouds, and in places the sand was very 

 deep, so that the American was not sorry when at last the track 

 led into a little island of bush in the great flat sand. 



There was no doubt the lion was at home, for on casting round 

 no sign was perceptible of a track coming out. The island, raised 

 a little above the river-bed, was formed of a mass of thick-tangled 

 bush and creepers clustered round a few big trees. The water com- 

 ing down the river after heavy rain had washed it roughly into 

 the form of a triangle, the apex of which pointed up the river. 

 From this point the sides widened out to the other end, which was 

 about thirty yards broad, the whole length being somewhat under a 

 hundred yards. 



Now, more than ever, the Ex-President's impetuous tempera- 

 ment asserted itself, but Selous, the veteran huntsman, who had 

 slain scores of lions, counselled caution. 



A DANGEROUS AND TRYING SITUATION. 



Accordingly he posted Col. Roosevelt on a spit of land opposite 

 the point of the island, while the beaters began to rain stones from 

 the other side. 



At the first stone there was a growl and a crash in the bushes 

 and then, for a minute or two, not a sound. The men started to 

 walk down, one on each side, shooting and throwing in stones. Col. 

 Roosevelt was watching them, and wondering what had happened 

 to the lion, when there was a faint crackling just in front, and he 

 appeared at the point of the island. Although the Colonel was 

 standing within a few yards of him, and absolutely in the open, he 

 did not see him. 



He was facing straight towards Selous and the Ex-President, 

 and was so close that the Colonel did not like to fire at him as, on 

 receiving the bullet, he would be very likely to plunge in the direction 

 he was going and be upon them ; nor did he want him to come any 

 closer; so, as he stepped down on the sand, he moved his rifle up 

 towards the shoulder to attract his attention. He saw the move- 



