280 AFRICAN NATURE NOTES CHAP. 



by the Kafir who had been carrying my rifle. 

 Climbing quickly to the top, I turned and looked 

 eagerly for the lions, which I had hoped to be able 

 to see from my vantage-ground in the grass below 

 me. But I saw nothing, and so began to walk 

 quickly along the edge of the low bluff, keeping 

 my eyes as wide open as possible. Suddenly I 

 heard a slight noise a little ahead of me, as of a 

 small stone being moved ; and turning my eyes 

 in the direction of the sound, saw a lioness just 

 emerging from the grass at the foot of the ridge. 

 She was on a little game -path, and evidently 

 intending to come up to the higher ground where 

 I was standing ; so, whispering the one word 

 " aima " ("stand") to the Kafir behind me a good 

 staunch boy I remained perfectly still, scarcely 

 daring to breathe. The lioness walked slowly up- 

 wards and was immediately followed by a fine lion. 

 One behind the other, these two magnificent brutes 

 strolled leisurely up the steep path until they stood 

 on the level ground above. 



Just as they came to the top, the lion walked 

 partially behind the lioness, whose hind -quarters 

 then covered most of his head and shoulders. I 

 don't think I was more than from twenty to thirty 

 yards away from them, and there was not a bush 

 or anything else between us but a scanty crop of 

 short grass less than a foot in height, yet neither 

 of them seemed at first to notice anything. I, on 

 my part, remained absolutely motionless, not wish- 

 ing to fire until I could get a clear view of the lion. 

 After they had walked broadside on to me, for 

 perhaps fifteen yards from the edge of the bluff, 

 the lioness stopped, and turning her head, looked 

 towards where I and the Kaiir stood. The lion 

 took another step or two forwards, and then also 

 stopped and looked at us. They were standing 

 exactly broadside on to me, close alongside of one 



