72 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. 



if he were my shadow. After making our way for 

 ab'out forty yards through the thicket, we were 

 brought to a standstill by an ominous growl, and, 

 shortly afterwards, heard the long jungle grass 

 rustling as the lion slunk away on our approach. 

 Cautiously following up the spoor, we came to the 

 spot where he had stopped to devour his victim, the 

 grass in the immediate neighbourhood being all 

 trampled down and covered with blood, though, 

 determined not to be cheated of his horrible meal, 

 the brute had dragged the body away with him. 

 By this time, not a sound was to be heard, and, 

 knowing that the animal could not be far off, I 

 advanced with utmost care, ready, should I get a 

 chance, instantly to place a bullet in him. A little 

 further on, we came across the gruesome sight of 

 the woman's half-eaten body and could see that 

 death must have been almost instantaneous, for 

 the animal had bitten her right through the back of 

 the neck. Leaving the remains where they were, 

 we continued our pursuit, moving a few yards at a 

 time, and expecting at any moment to come upon 

 the beast. Suddenly, our progress was arrested by 

 a fierce growl a few yards ahead of us, and, next 

 instant, I caught a fleeting glimpse of the animal 

 slinking away, but it was much too brief to risk a 

 shot. Before advancing further, I told Simba to 

 climb a tree some yards to our right and spy out the 



