ON THE TRACK OF LIONS 



might still be in the neighbourhood, that they had 

 killed sufficient game to render them unwilling to 

 move on to fresh hunting-ground. We had not 

 gone far, however, before Clark espied a couple of 

 eland, which seemed to be on guard. They were 

 standing under a tree, and it was not easy to stalk 

 them. Still, I managed to get near enough to expose 

 a few feet of film before they lumbered off. I was 

 keen on them now, so followed their spoor, and 

 finally secured another thirty or forty feet of film, 

 with which I was well satisfied. Then we headed 

 once more for the lion ground. 



The adventure was not a thing to be undertaken 

 lightly. A single lion ought always to be approached 

 with cautious respect, though he will probably try 

 and get out of the way if possible ; whilst a pack of 

 lions — ^it is the only phrase one can use for fourteen 

 of them — deserves even more than respect. On this 

 occasion I carried my rifle, though I was not anxious 

 to have to use it. A boy had the' camera. Clark, of 

 course, had his rifle, and two Masai spearmen acted 

 as guard. 



Our route led us along the bank of a dry spruit 

 about four feet deep and twenty yards in width, 

 with bushes on either side of it. On our right 

 was an open plain. The only tree I could see, 

 affording a chance of escape if we had to run 

 for our lives, was a solitary one some forty yards 



7 97 



