22 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



fever coming on, Wolhuter was obliged to turn back 

 after going a few miles, but before he left the party he 

 warned them to take no undue risks. However, some- 

 times with the aid of a very good and plucky dog which 

 accompanied them, and sometimes by firing the clumps 

 of reeds and grass in which she from time to time took 

 shelter, they drove the lioness from one refuge to another 

 without being able to get a shot at her, until she was 

 worked up into a very bad temper indeed. At last they 

 got her into an isolated patch of bush, whence she could 

 not escape except in full view of the party. The dog 

 went in, and was killed at once, upon which the white man 

 formed his party in line about fifty yards from the edge 

 of the covert, and, all having prepared themselves, they 

 began to throw stones in. 



Suddenly, like a streak of light, the lioness came. All 

 fired, and all missed. In the wink of an eye she was on 

 them, knocked the native at the end of the line over, and 

 then seized the one next to him. The whole party 

 apparently fell over in a heap, the white man getting 

 entangled with a thorn bush, so that he could not use 

 his rifle. Fortunately an old native hunter who happened 

 to be farthest from the lioness, kept his head, and, inserting 

 a fresh cartridge into his martini, shot the animal dead 

 before anyone was fatally injured. I think all of them 

 fully realized from that time that a wounded lion is not 

 to be trifled with. 



Once a lion has charged or has crouched ready for the 

 rush, the hunter must rely on straight shooting alone 

 to save him ; but even should he unluckily miss, standing 

 perfectly still may possibly benefit him. Ranger Healy 

 was charged by a lioness which he missed when she was 

 about twenty yards away, and coming fast, straight at 

 him. He had no time to push another cartridge into 



