i8o THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



sisted in my consciousness; became fantastic; mingled 

 with dreams; faded into distant thunder. 



I was jerked back from sleep by a roar that seemed 

 to shake the tent. The men were chattering together 

 in subdued tones; and I could see against my canvas 

 the flickering of replenished little fires before the men 's 

 tents. This one mighty roar had for the moment ter- 

 minated the concert. A dead blank silence had fallen 

 on the world. Leaning on my elbow, I Hstened in- 

 tently. I could for a moment hear nothing. Then 

 came the sound of a steady lap lap lap of a beast drink- 

 ing. They were actually watering at our Uttle water- 

 hole just outside the camp-lines! 



There was nothing to be done; and no particular 

 danger. The situation was interesting, that was all. 

 In about ten minutes the lions withdrew. I fell asleep 

 again; but through my dreams I could hear them oc- 

 casionally, voicing their satisfaction — or dissatisfaction 

 — as they slowly retired. Never before had I heard lions 

 roar so persistently. 



Next morning, eating my breakfast as usual before 

 daylight, I talked it over with Memba Sasa. We 

 agreed it was about time to go lion hunting. Memba 

 Sasa thought there were four of them. Subsequent 

 events proved him correct. 



We took with us every man in camp, with the ex- 

 ception of the cook and Ali; just in case we might have 

 to beat cover. The game had drawn close about us 



