A Lion-Hunt 



While thus engaged, I had again got out of sight 

 of my men, and now again I heard the same warning 

 growls just as I had at midday ! Looking to one side 

 I saw first one, then a second, then a third, then a fourth 

 lion all with manes ! There was a distance of only 

 about one hundred and twenty-five paces between me and 

 the nearest of them. 



This time I lost my nerve. I tried to retreat, with 

 the result that the nearest lion made two springs forward 

 and then began to creep slowly towards me. I remained 

 standing motionless. The lion remained stretched out 

 watching me. Minutes passed thus ten long minutes at 

 least and now my men were to be seen some distance 

 away. As soon as they came in sight of the lions and 

 took in my position, my trusty " Baruti Boy" no Swahili, 

 but a member of a branch of the Manyema race suspected 

 of cannibalism was the first to come up to me, with my 

 '45O-rifle in his hands. The others followed him slowly, 

 but they did not dare to come very far, and were not to 

 be induced to come right up to me. 



The lions were now getting much disquieted, and began 

 to growl. They made a majestic and unique picture, 

 standing out in sharp outline against the velt in the 

 rays of the setting sun, the undulating ground behind 

 them blending with the far horizon in the quivering*, 

 glistening twilight. As the warning growls and the whole 

 demeanour of the animals were very different from those 

 of the lion I had shot in the morning, I came to the 

 conclusion that they were hungry, and therefore would 

 prove dangerous to deal with ; and having no reserve 

 VOL. i. 369 24 



