44 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



handed over my rifle to my gun-bearer a few minutes 

 before and was walking a short distance in front, and, 

 instead of passing through the tall grass in the hollow, I 

 passed to one side. The men following went right through 

 it, and I suddenly heard a series of hoarse grunts, so, 

 naturally, stopped and turned round to look. The lion 

 must have seen or heard me pass, but he was so excited 

 with the shouts of the men that he forgot my existence 

 and ran towards me, looking back at the natives. I gave 

 a shout, and the lion then noticed me and stopped and 

 crouched, putting his head on his paws. I regretted not 

 having my rifle in my hand, for he was only about two 

 paces from me, and I could easily have brained him. I 

 held out my hand for the rifle, and the man who was 

 carrying it very pluckily carne round with it. 



Just as I got it in my hand the lion bolted to the right, 

 and I foolishly fired a running shot at him, instead of 

 waiting for him to stand, which I think he would have 

 done within 100 yards or less. My bullet must have 

 passed just in front of his face, for he swerved sharply 

 and was soon into some thick bush, where I lost sight of 

 him, and, although the men and myself beat up the bush, 

 we never saw him again. When the lion bolted I was 

 amused at the action of a boy who had a soft iron knife 

 in his hand, for he gave a yell and ran after the lion. 

 What he thought he could do if the lion had stopped and 

 waited for him I cannot say. 



When we were crossing the swamp one of the worst 

 tropical storms of thunder, lightning, and rain that I have 

 ever seen came on, and the lightning was so close that I 

 feared some of us would be struck. While tramping along 

 in the mud and lashing rain I noticed several herds of 

 game, and they stood like horses or cattle with their tails 

 to the driving storm, and would hardly move out of our 

 way. I saw several reedbucks, also, and I remember one 

 male had a very fine head, but he was more lively than 

 most of the other game, for he ran off before I could get the 

 rifle from its cover. We got home at dusk soaked and 



