LAST DAYS ON THE SERENGETTI 281 



nessed these things and had photographed a lioness as 

 she stalked a w art hog which incautiously stuck its head 

 out of its burrow. Stealthily coming up from behind, 

 mth a quick bound she hfted this two-hundred-pound 

 animal out of its hole by the nape of the neck, kilhng 

 it almost instantly and bearing it away as a house cat 

 would a mouse. So we thought everything that was 

 possible for them to do had previously been performed 

 for our benefit, but today had discovered another side 

 of their nature, proving them to be inquisitive and 

 playful animals. As I watched them I wished it were 

 feasible to tame one and take it home for a pet. 



As this was to be our final day with the Hons, I 

 remained with them until sunset. My last remem- 

 brance of the prowlers of the Serengetti is of a majestic 

 male Hon silhouetted atop an ant liill with five Honesses 

 grouped below him. Another female walked across 

 this scene with her head held high, carrying in her 

 mouth a piece of meat which she was taking to her 

 cubs near by. Her shadow was reflected in the drink- 

 ing pool across which played long shafts of golden fight, 

 making it ghnt like diamonds, as the blood-red sun 

 dropped from the cloud-fiUed sky to sink below the 

 flaming horizon. 



The heavy rains came on suddenly and, as Ted had 

 not returned, it was decided to load the one truck as 

 heavily as possible and push beyond the Gurmeti, for 

 all potential trouble in getting out of the district 

 would be between our camp and that river. I stayed 

 behind with two black boys to pack up the remaining 

 equipment, which would go on the second load. 



Shortly after the truck left at noon on March twelfth, 

 a regular cloudburst deluged the country, making 



