146 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap. 



whole structure look as natural as possible. Near 

 the base of the s/iofna, and looking- out on the body 

 of the eland, loopholes were cut, through which we 

 could see and thrust our rifles. Of course a small 

 opening was left at the back of the shoina for a 

 doorway which would be closed again by a bush as 

 soon as we got inside. 



In addition, I had a steel trap set close to the 

 kill, which I thought would be powerful enough to 

 hold the lion for a second or two if he put his foot 

 into it, thus giving us a better chance of shooting 

 him before he could get out of sight in the dark. I 

 had this trap firmly anchored to a big root by means 

 of a stout rope. 



When we returned to camp we swallowed a hasty 

 dinner, and then all three set out for the s/iojua, 

 accompanied by two gun-bearers whom I considered 

 necessary to have inside with us so that they might 

 guard the back of the flimsy shoina, where we were 

 only protected by a few bushes. 



The ground inside had been covered with dry 

 grass, and on this we placed our blankets beside 

 the loopholes, and taking up as comfortable a posi- 

 tion as possible, thrust the barrels of our rifles 

 through the holes and remained thus for hours, 

 intently watching the spot where we knew the half- 

 eaten body of the dead eland lay. The night was 

 so inky black that we could barely see even the 



