206 WANDERINGS AND MEMORIES 



sight, but as she was apparently more excited by 

 the advent of the galloping horses, and was looking 

 towards them, I thought I would risk her charge 

 and allow Pullar to have the shot, since, more than 

 once, he had expressed his wish to kill a lion. 



I kept my sight on her chest, however, and must 

 confess that the moment when Pullar to my right 

 jumped off his horse and got into position was 

 a very anxious one. Every moment I thought 

 she would charge, when at last bang went the 

 powerful '416 Rigby, and the lioness seemed to be 

 bodily lifted from the ground and placed hors de 

 combat. I breathed a sigh of relief, but although 

 done for, she still showed fight — ^the shot was rather 

 low, but had raked her through the stomach. Yet 

 the gallant beast still came on. PuUar's second 

 shot missed, and the third laid her out, appar- 

 ently dead, whilst the fourth caused instantaneous 

 death. In the excitement of the moment both my 

 friend and Judd had a shot at my lioness, which did 

 not seem to require it. I need not describe the joy 

 with which we surveyed our prizes — two full-grown 

 lionesses in the prime of life. Apparently Pullar 

 and Judd had also seen the lions, and came at full 

 speed before they heard my shots, being unaware of 

 my presence until I fired, but it was splendid that 

 Pullar should have arrived in time to get his first 

 lion. Indeed, it was a great day for him, as shall 

 be detailed later. 



I was very pleased with Mabruki and Simba 

 Mat en, my second gun-bearer, who had stuck close 

 to me in attacking the lions, and neither of these 

 men betrayed the smallest symptom of fear when it 

 came to action. Mabruki stood like a rock, with 



