2i 4 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. xxn 



usually occurs about two hours after death), I 

 set off in pursuit of the lion. We followed his 

 tracks for some hours, but as he had only received 

 a flesh wound and the blood spoor was very 

 slight, we eventually lost all trace of him. 



Towards evening, I returned to the river, where 

 I found that my men had already succeeded in 

 dragging the hippo's lumbering body ashore. On 

 examining the carcase, I discovered that the lion, 

 besides covering the animal's face and head with 

 claw marks, had gouged out his left eye and 

 almost bitten off his right ear, the nature of the 

 wounds leaving little doubt in my mind that he 

 would have managed to kill his victim, had I 

 not appeared so inopportunely on the scene. 



