204 WANDERINGS AND MEMORIES 



of most of the common kinds, and as we look them 

 over with the glass, and at last see that one individual 

 with an exceptional trophy, it is our object to kill 

 him, even if it takes all day to do so. I rode on 

 for some ten minutes, till the whole landscape 

 in front seemed dotted with troops of Topi, Pallah, 

 Wildebeest, Zebra and Thomson's Gazelle, whilst 

 here and there could be seen a few Sing-Sing Water- 

 buck, and one small herd of Coke's Hartebeest 

 and a few small Wart-hog. Topi were literally 

 in hundreds, and mostly scattered or in small 

 groups. 



I saw nothing with an exceptional head, and was 

 about to put away my glass, when at about 600 

 yards I noticed a large yellow beast standing in front 

 of a dark bush. It seemed to carry no horns, so 

 I put the glass on it. A thrill of excitement passed 

 through me when I saw it was a big lioness. She 

 seemed to be watching me closely, and as I lowered 

 the glass and said " Simba " to Mabruki she trotted 

 out of the bush, closely followed by two other 

 lionesses as large as herself. 



Luckily the lions made for the open park-lands, 

 and not towards the river bush, which was close 

 at hand, so I set old " Kongoni " on the move at 

 a gentle canter, whilst Mabruki ran alongside me, 

 at a good pace, with my second gun. My object was 

 to cut off the lions in their advance and bring them 

 to bay without, if possible, making them too much 

 annoyed, and so get in a quiet shot. The leading 

 lioness, however, became alarmed and dashed 

 forward at a good gallop, leaving the two others 

 trotting quietly in the rear. Soon she was 200 yards 

 ahead of the others, and disappeared in a dry water- 



