THE LAST FRONTIER 



ever, who employs a dozen Somalis to ride the beast 

 to a standstill, after which he goes to the front, has 

 eliminated much of the thrill. Nor need that man's 

 stay-at-home family feel any excessive uneasiness 

 over Father Killing Lions in Africa. 



The method that interested me more than any 

 other is one exceedingly difficult to follow except 

 under favourable circumstances. I refer to tracking 

 them down afoot. This requires that your gun- 

 bearer should be an expert trailer, for, outside the fact 

 that following a soft-padded animal over all sorts 

 of ground is a very difficult thing to do, the hunter 

 should be free to spy ahead. It is necessary also to 

 possess much patience and to endure under many 

 disappointments. But on the other hand there is in 

 this sport a continuous keen thrill to be enjoyed in 

 no other; and he who single handed tracks down and 

 kills his lion thus, has well earned the title of shi- 

 kari the Hunter. 



And the last method of all is to trust to the God of 

 Chance. The secret of success is to be always ready 

 to take instant advantage of what the moment of- 

 fers. 



An occasional hunting story is good in itself: and 

 the following will also serve to illustrate what I have 

 just been saying. 



We were after that prize, the greater kudu, and 



148 



