TSAVO REVISITED 



would be much safer on the water-tank or in trees, 

 until the iron huts which I was then building for their 

 protection could be got ready. They did not wish 

 to move, however, and Natha Singh, the leader of 

 the party, assured me that they felt quite safe so high 

 up ; besides, was not Khucia (God) all-powerful ? 

 It seems that Kkuda was indeed looking after them. 

 One night, contrary to their usual custom, they 

 carelessly left part of the ladder projecting a little 

 way beyond the end of the staging ; a hungry Man- 

 Eater on the prowl observed this, and thinking that 

 he could not find a meal more conveniently else- 

 where, determined to try how a carpenter tasted. 

 Calculating his spring, he leaped lightly on to the 

 projecting ladder, which, unfortunately for him, 

 instantly tipped up and toppled over, both falling 

 heavily to the ground. No doubt the ladder gave 

 him a good blow when it struck him, for he tied at 

 once without attempting to touch the men, who, 

 thoroughly terrified by the tearing of their tent 

 caused by the tipping up of the ladder and 

 believing that the lion was upon them, jumped from 

 the staging in all directions and with terror-stricken 

 cries raced for their lives to the nearest trees. 

 Fortunately no one was hurt, but after this the 

 staging was deserted for the more secure fastness 

 of the top of a masonry pier rising out of the 

 river bed. 



