106 LION HUNTING IN AFRICA. 



This, however, was only the beginning of the achievements of a strenuous 

 day. No sooner had the loud shouts of the natives announced this glorious 

 triumph over their sworn enemy, than one of the beaters came running from 

 the creek to tell them that another lion had been seen along the sandy banks. 

 The party at once started off to track the game. Following the sandy trail 

 along the shore, over stony ground and through patches of underbrush and 

 coarse grass, they expected to see the "simba" at any moment, but a heavy 

 rain had blurred the spoor in the soft sand and made the tracking somewhat 

 difficult. At last the track was totally lost in the wet sand and the party made 

 a halt, ready to give up the fruitless search. But our strenuous ex-President 

 would listen to no such advice. The old lion hunter Selous sided in with 

 him, and off they started for another high river-bed, towards which the lion 

 had been seen running. Luck favored them this time, and they soon were on 

 the track again. The trail led to a thicket of three-feet-high grass, reed 

 and bushes forming a dense jungle on a little island. The native beaters 

 began shouting and throwing stones in this hiding place, where nothing could 

 be seen but the luxurious impenetrable tropical vegetation, while our hunters 

 posted themselves on the opposite side, ready to receive the jungle king. 

 A terrible growl was soon heard, there was a rustling in the underbrush, and 

 with a swift leap the lion darted towards the Colonel. He came so close 

 that the bold sportsman almost could feel his hot breath tickling his nostrils. 

 The situation was an exciting one. Missing the target meant a sure death 

 between the jaws of the beast. Not losing a second the ex-President threw 

 his Winchester up to his shoulder and sent a buzzing bullet through the 

 lion's heart while at the highest point of its leap. 



"That's a fine one," the Colonel was heard to exclaim, when the heavy 

 body of the brute touched the trembling ground. 



It would seem as if the two trophies won in one day would have been 

 enough to satisfy the most ambitious sportsman. But they had only just 

 whetted our American nimrod's appetite. Disdaining the smaller game that 

 swarmed around his safari, he said to his companions : "Let us find another 

 lion," and off they started again. The rays of the tropical sun fell upon their 

 heads like burning blasts from a furnace, and everyone felt the depressing 

 effect of the murderous African climate. But on they marched — natives, 

 English and Americans — inspired by the indomitable energy of the most 

 strenuous man on earth. The region through which they went excels in 

 beautiful tropical scenery. Diverse varieties of palms, olives and fig trees 



