86 AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 



in a slight hollow, where the grass was rather long. The 

 plain seemed flat, and we could see the lion well from horse- 

 back; but, especially when he lay down, it was most diffi- 

 cult to make him out on foot, and impossible to do so when 

 kneeling. 



We were about a hundred and fifty yards from the lion, 

 Sir Alfred, Kermit, Medlicott, and Miss Pease off to one 

 side, and slightly above him on the slope, while I was on 

 the level, about equidistant from him and them. Kermit 

 and I tried shooting from the horses; but at such a distance 

 this was not effective. Then Kermit got off, but his horse 

 would not let him shoot; and when I got off I could not 

 make out the animal through the grass with sufficient 

 distinctness to enable me to take aim. Old Ben the dog 

 had arrived, and, barking loudly, was strolling about near 

 the lion, which paid him not the slightest attention. At 

 this moment my black sais, Simba, came running up to 

 me and took hold of the bridle; he had seen the chase 

 from the line of march and had cut across to join me. 

 There was no other sais or gun-bearer anywhere near, 

 and his action was plucky, for he was the only man 

 afoot, with the lion at bay. Lady Pease had also ridden 

 up and was an interested spectator only some fifty yards 

 behind me. 



Now, an elderly man with a varied past which includes 

 rheumatism does not vault lightly into the saddle; as his 

 sons, for instance, can; and I had already made up my 

 mind that in the event of the lion's charging it would be 

 wise for me to trust to straight powder rather than to try to 

 scramble into the saddle and get under way in time. The 

 arrival of my two companions settled matters. I was not 

 sure of the speed of Lady Pease's horse; and Simba was 

 on foot and it was of course out of the question for me to 

 leave him. So I said, "Good, Simba, now we'll see this 

 thing through," and gentle-mannered Simba smiled a shy 

 appreciation of my tone, though he could not understand 

 the words. I was still unable to see the lion when I knelt, 



