Meeting a Troop of Lions 263 



I was able to observe my adversaries, much better 

 than would have been the case at night in the un- 

 steady, precipitated light of the electric projector. 



On November 3, 1895, we set out at dawn in 

 pursuit of buffaloes, which had come to drink while 

 we were at a night-watch. By about ten o'clock in 

 the morning, we have proceeded far into a mountain- 

 ous country. Abandoning the chase, we decide to 

 return to camp by taking a short cut across the plain. 



The hour may be about noon, and the heat is over- 

 powering. Each of us walks along in silence, picking 

 his way over the uneven ground. Here and there 

 can be seen a few clumps of tall grass, which the fire 

 has not destroyed ; one in particular is on my right, 

 at the foot of a large tree. T\vo of my men lead (I 

 cannot remember which) ; Kambombe follows me at 

 fifteen yards' distance with the 303 ; and the others 

 bring up the rear. We tramp along without think- 

 ing unless it be of that glaring sun beating down 

 upon the desolate landscape. 



As I get on a level with the big tree, a sudden 

 growl makes me start. An enormous lion looking 

 bigger than he really is, because he is standing on an 

 ant-hill appears, and shows his teeth. I stop, and, 

 throwing my stick to the ground, stretch my arm out 

 behind me, according to habit, to receive my rifle. 

 But nobody is there, and when Kambombe at last 

 comes up it is too late. Seeing me stop to look at 

 him, the lion has disappeared in the grass, and the 

 whole family (composed of five the parents and 

 three large cubs) are seen making off at a slow trot. 



