WILD LIFE ACROSS THE WORLD 



ready to head him off if he made a move, and he knew 

 there were others on his flanks and in his rear. The 

 Somalis were fine horsemen, riding with knees to the 

 chin, and took the Hon's wrath calmly. Just as we 

 arrived one of them dismounted, not thirty-five yards 

 from the lion, and filling his pockets with stones, 

 mounted again and threw a couple at him. Apparently 

 the insult was too much for the king of beasts, for 

 with a terrifying roar he leapt at his tormentor. 



For a moment it seemed as if a tragedy was 

 inevitable. The SomaU had not expected this move, 

 but he did not lose his head, and his horse was quite 

 alive to the dangers of the situation. It was off in 

 a flash. The lion made one huge spring, and it 

 looked as if he must land fairly on the horse just 

 behind the saddle, but at the psychological moment 

 the animal swerved and escaped with only a sHght 

 scratch. It was a terribly narrow shave. I never 

 want to see one like it again. The lion came to ground 

 heavily, but without losing a second he was after his 

 enemy with raging fury, and it seemed as if he were 

 going to win after all. Every moment he gained 

 ground, but just as he was about to spring again 

 another Somali cut across in front of him. The trick 

 succeeded. The lion, ftiriously angry, turned to pursue 

 the new-comer, and so lost his chance. The horseman 

 kept well ahead, and realising that he could not hope 

 to overtake him, the lion stopped and crouched down. 



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