HUNTING ELEPHANT AND RIDING LION 183 
There are one or two things that any man riding lions 
would do well to remember: First, do not follow a lion or 
lions into cover if you are on horseback — not even thin cover. 
Once you have chased a lion he is a very different beast from 
the beast that rapidly slinks away from you when you are 
hunting on foot. In this last case he instinctively knows 
he can get away if he cares to. In the former, he finds you 
have the pace of him, and, resenting that, he will attack 
with determination. The second lion H. and I rode on 
that memorable morning, when we chased two and shot 
them in half an hour, had after H.’s bullet had only stung 
him, every chance to walk into the impenetrable stronghold 
of the river grass, if he wanted to. It grew thickly not 
twenty yards from where he was first hit. But he did not 
want to do anything of the sort, and angered by the long, 
hard chase, and casting all idea of further retreat behind 
him, he came boldly away from the covert he had striven 
so strenuously to gain, and advanced quickly into the open 
to grapple with his pursuer. 
To follow a lion in such a mood into even short cover, 
on horseback, is to court death. You are within a few 
feet or yards before you know it. His terror-striking growl 
as he rushes in will render your mount unmanageable, 
and make shooting out of the question. You cannot 
escape, and are at his mercy. This is, of course, also the 
reason why it is folly to ride lion in grass or bush country. 
You see one to ten galloping in front of you, next moment 
some of these have vanished. You may not ride into them, 
but you may, and if so, you are done for; and then, at best, 
you will do no more lion riding that trip. 
Second, the man who does the shooting must dis- 
mount without delay or hesitation. He must quickly 
choose his place, fixing it in his mind as he gallops up, 
if possible a spot from which he can command the lion for 
a few yards every way, and on which he can plump down. 
