SPEAR AND SHIELD 181 



Next morning dawned bright and clear. We left 

 camp before eight o'clock, the Nandi war chant roUing 

 over the veldt as we sped toward the land of Simba. 

 At a few minutes before ten, Mike and I espied four 

 lions about one hundred yards distant. Plans were 

 made, and Mike went to entice them away from cover, 



While he was doing this, Olaitorio gathered his war^ 

 riors around to give them final instructions. He re^ 

 minded them that their fathers were all brave men, 

 none of whom had feared the king of beasts; that no 

 Nandi warrior had ever stepped back from the charge 

 of a Hon. It was the worst disgrace that could ever 

 befall a spearman to falter or fail to place his spear. 

 After this rousing harangue, the Nandi sprang to their 

 feet, chanting their battle song which, like strains of 

 martial music, inspired us all for the conflict. 



During these proceedings I had arranged aU the 

 cameras ready for instant action. Upon the return 

 of Mike, mth the previous experience to guide us, we 

 took it easy, with both trucks running together until 

 a Hon had been separated from liis harem of Honesses. 



While racing into position to film the Hon charge, 

 and desperately holding on to the tripod as we bumped 

 over the veldt, I glanced over my shoulder to see how 

 our visitors were coming along. Their two trucks were 

 foUowing a short distance behind and off to one side. 

 One member of the party was perched on top of a 

 truck cab preparing to make some pictures with an 

 amateur movie camera. I looked ahead for a second 

 and then glanced around again, just in time to see this 

 man tumble from the cab and faU directly in front of 

 the speeding truck, which passed completely over him. 

 I thought surely he was kiUed, or at least seriously 



