ONE AFRICAN DAY 217 



ing carefully from dense jungle, Judd noticed a 

 herd of Waterbuck grazing, and to ascertain 

 whether there was a bull with good horns amongst 

 them, he whistled loudly several times to make them 

 put up their heads. As they were all females we 

 went on, and soon noticed a fine Waterbuck, but 

 in a very unapproachable position in open ground 

 600 yards off down -wind. 



" We decided that Judd and the gun -bearers 

 should halt where they were, and I stalked forward 

 about 200 yards through the grass, till I could see 

 the bull grazing about 200 yards off. I heard 

 whistling behind, but thinking that Judd was again 

 trying to get the beast to raise his head, I went on, 

 and eventually fired a shot, which missed. On 

 looking back, as I should probably have done 

 earlier, I noticed Judd and the gun -bearers hastening 

 forward on my left and beckoning me to come. 



" It seems that a lion and five lionesses had come 

 out of the bush and were also stalking my buck, 

 but from the east. 



" On hearing my shot they returned leisurely to 

 the bush, and we were disappointed to think that 

 a good chance at lion had been lost, but I was pretty 

 hot and blown, and told Judd that I could probably 

 not have hit the lion anyhow. 



" After a few minutes' rest we went forward, and 

 had just decided to stalk a Reedbuck, which was, 

 as Judd said, ' coming from the sublime to the 

 ridiculous,' when we again saw the lion alone, 

 about 220 yards off, and facing our way. He was 

 swinging his tail up over his back, as if rather 

 annoyed at being interrupted in his stalk. 



" I had plenty of time to get into a comfortable 



