278 AFRICA SPEAKS 



rifles, the 7 mm. Mauser, shooting a 139-grain bullet. 

 If they had charged us en masse, we could not possibly 

 have stopped them at that short distance with these 

 small guns. 



One of the males was an exceptionally big Hon, and 

 I made up my mind to take liim home with me if 

 possible. Mike agreed it was a good idea, provided 

 we allowed them to get farther away before starting 

 any trouble, so we stood still until they had finished 

 their inspection of us and trotted off. At sixty yards 

 the one I wanted stopped, while the others continued 

 on another sixty yards or so. This appeared to be 

 the time for action, so, taking a careful bead, I placed 

 an expanding bullet into liis back, which made it 

 impossible for him to move; however, he was not 

 dead by any means and raised enough commotion 

 for six Hons, causing his late companions to wheel 

 about. For a few seconds it looked as if they might 

 charge, but after a httle growhng and tail swishing, 

 the Honess bounded away and her consort followed. 

 While Mike went to fetch the truck, I walked up to 

 within twelve feet of the wounded Hon, finisliing him 

 with a hard-nosed bullet. 



Now came the task of loading this heavy beast 

 aboard. There were only two of us and one black 

 boy, and, in spite of our best efforts, we were unable 

 to hft this huge cat into the truck. A storm was 

 brewing and Mike estimated we were at least forty 

 miles from camp by the nearest way. A hard rain 

 would make the ground impassable, besides filhng the 

 many dongas with water, thus effectually trapping us. 

 In spite of these hazards of delay, I did not feel hke 

 giving up my hon and finally liit upon the plan of 



