GOOD-BYE SERGOIT 255 
was sitting with the rest when one of his black crew came 
running up to say that a snake was swimming round the 
stern of the ship. Captain looked over the side 
and saw a big python that had probably been washed 
out of its near by swampy retreat by the prevailing heavy 
rains, trying to make a landing somewhere. ‘The planking 
of the pier and the side of the steamer were too much for 
it, but making its way round the ship, it came to the ladder 
which was down to the water’s edge on the offside, and 
began to crawl up the sloping steps at once. A great 
snake crawling on shipboard! Was such a thing — even 
in Africa — possible? There were plenty of guns to 
hand and the men standing there knew how to use them, 
but each looked at the other and no one cared to be the 
first to make a move. The Captain took in the situation 
and with his smooth bore shot its head off, to the immense 
relief of some of his companions. The python measured 
sixteen feet four inches. 
The lion when possible conceals his kill carefully. 
If thick bushes are near he often succeeds in hiding it long 
enough for even the vulture’s eye to permit of his satisfying 
his appetite a second time. 
The roar of a lion is, as everyone knows, a much debated 
point. Some will have it that the historic sound is one 
but very seldom heard. When the Jewish poet of long 
ago wrote, “‘The lions roaring after their prey do seek 
their meat from God,” he used a term it seems to me that 
suited well what he meant to describe. In many places 
at once, and often all night long, you can hear it in East 
Africa. Then again in a land full of lion, you will not 
hear it at all. 
I saw twenty-seven lions in five days once, on the 
Nzoia. During those days and for several before and 
after them no lion called within earshot of camp. I also 
found two lairs in daily use quite close to that camp. 
