MORE LIONS 



At last the twining paths in the shoulder-high grass 

 fanned out separately. We counted. 



"You were right, Mavrouki," said I, "there were 

 eight." 



At the end of each path was a beaten-down little 

 space where evidently the beasts had been lying 

 down. With an exclamation the three gunbearers 

 darted forward to investigate. The lairs were 

 still warm! Their occupants had evidently made off 

 only at our approach! 



Not five minutes later we were halted by a low 

 warning growl right ahead. We stopped. The 

 boys squatted on their heels close to me, and we con- 

 sulted in whispers. 



Of course it would be sheer madness to attack 

 eight lions in grass so high we could not see five feet 

 in front of us. That went without saying. On 

 the other hand, Mavrouki swore that he had yester- 

 day seen no small cubs with the band, and our ex- 

 amination of the tracks made in soft earth seemed 

 to bear him out. The chances were therefore that, 

 unless themselves attacked or too close pressed, the 

 lions would not attack us. By keeping just in their 

 rear we might be able to urge them gently along un- 

 til they should enter more open cover. Then we 

 could see. 



Therefore we gave the owner of that growl about 



157 



