294 AFRICA SPEAKS 



runs out." There may be some like this, and probably 

 are, but my crew were not of this type. Mike Cottar 

 knew animals and where to find them, and I was sorry, 

 indeed, to learn that he would not be able to accom- 

 pany me on my journey across Africa. 



Three weeks were spent in Nairobi, securing govern- 

 ment permits, reorganizing the expedition, making 

 changes in the personnel, overhauling the trucks, 

 replenishing stores, and renewing equipment. When 

 I look back and consider the Easter hohdays and the 

 many officials that had to be consulted, I wonder 

 how I ever got started. While Jones was rebuilding 

 our Durant marvels, endeavoring to make them into 

 trucks, I attended to everything else, even having 

 time to visit Jack Lucy in the local hospital, where 

 he was convalescing from his lion mauHng. Propped 

 up in bed, with a soft pillow behind his injured arm 

 and shoulder, he explained how it occurred. 



"I was walking down the bottom of a donga, not 

 expecting to find lions there, but as is usual in Africa, 

 the unusual happened. It has always been my habit 

 to carry a heavy rifle, but on this day my leg was 

 bothering me, so I carried a fight bore, which made the 

 difference between being mauled and getting away 

 scot free. I saw a flash of yeUow over my shoulder, 

 and almost automaticaUy threw my rifle around and 

 fired. The aim was true, the bullet entering the 

 fion's mouth, but was too smaU to give a kiUing blow. 

 The fion threw me to the ground, maufing me badly. 

 I recall no feefing of pain during the time this was 

 happening, but after my companion had shot the cat 

 off and I tried to get up, my painful bites became 

 only too apparent." 



