63 /'/(/ C.A.MI-: SHOOTINC, 



rely on. I have a weakness for a second bullet, and backing 

 my pony a little further off I told my after-rider to go to the 

 waggon and bring me a fresh supply. He was only absent a 

 few minutes, I keeping watch on the lioness meanwhile On 

 his return I loaded the empty barrel, and, getting off for a 

 steady shot, found to my dismay that, although I could see 

 her well enough whilst sitting on my horse, the long grass 

 hid her entirely when on my feet. I could not remount, 

 for the after-rider had removed the horse, and it is not pro- 

 bable the lioness would have allowed me to do so without 

 interference. For a moment I was in a fix, but about ten 

 yards to my left I saw a dead mimosa-tree with a fork in it 

 five feet from the ground. It appeared my only chance, 

 though a risky one ; and I wonder to this day that the beast 

 did not charge when she saw the scrub moving as I passed 

 through it. She did not, however, and I gained my fork and 

 could now see her quite plainly, and she me likewise, for she 

 never took her eyes off for one second. Her head was full 

 front. I aimed between her eyes, but a twig must have 

 turned the ball, for I was firing from a rest, and it only bored 

 a clean hole through her ear. She struck it angrily with her 

 paw, and then faced me again. The second shot was more 

 successful, and she dropped dead. I had hit her the first time 

 very far aft, but I think she must have been more crippled 

 than I had supposed, or she would never have allowed me to 

 move about so clumsily without attempting a diversion. 



The second attack, a year afterwards, was not so prolonged, 

 but the lions pressed the men so hard that they had to take 

 refuge between the fires and the hedge of the kraal, and the 

 beasts twice crossed the line of firelight in pursuit. The third 

 imbroglio at this water was more serious, but the initiative this 

 time was with me. John, my after-rider, woke me very early 

 one morning to tell me a lioness and her cub were drinking at 

 the spring, from which we were lying only 200 yards dis- 

 tant. Ordering him to saddle two horses they had not yet 

 been loosed from the waggon-wheels to which we always 



