A FINE CHANCE LOST. Io3 



and stood wondering at the report of the rifle, ami 

 seeking for the cause of this intrusion. This was a 

 grand lion with a shaggy inane; but I was unloaded. 

 Keeping my eyes fixed on the beast, I stretched 

 my hand back fora spare rifle; the lion remained 

 standing, but gazing up wind with his head raised, 

 snuffing in the air for a scent of the enemy. Xo 

 rifle was put into my hand. I looked back for an 

 instant, and saw my Tokrooris faltering about five 

 yards behind me. Hooked daggers at them, gnashing 

 my teeth and shaking my fist. They saw the lion, 

 and Talier Noor, snatching a rifle from Hadji Ali, 

 was just about to bring it, when Hassan, ashamed, 

 ran forward the lion disappeared at the same 

 moment. Never was such a fine chance lost through 

 the indecision of the gun-bearers, and I made a vow 

 never to carry a single-barrelled rifle again when 

 hunting large game. If 1 had had my dear little 

 Fletcher 24, 1 should have nailed the lion to a 

 certainty. However, there was not much time 

 for reflection. Where was the first lion ? So;ne 

 remains of the buffalo lay upon my right, and I 

 expected to find the lion most probably crouch- 

 ing in the thorns somewhere near us. Having re- 

 loaded, I took one of my Reillv Xo. 1" rifle, and 

 listened attentivelv for a sound. Presently I heard 

 within a few yards a low gro\vl. Talier Noor drew 

 his sword, and with his shield before him. he searched 

 for the lion, while I crept, forward towards the 

 sound, which was repeated. A loud roar, ace >m- 

 panied bv a rush in the jungle, showed us a glimpse 

 oi the lion, as he bounded oil' within ten or twelve 



