264 After Big Game in Central Africa 



We dash off in pursuit ; but, the unburnt grass be- 

 coming thicker, we lose sight of them. However, 

 Msiambiri sees them from the top of a tree, and also 

 distinguishes the horns of a koodoo behind the ant- 

 hill where we disturbed them. The family has 

 evidently been gorging, and will probably allow itself 

 to be approached. We continue to follow, therefore, 

 with large strides ; and it is not long before I see 

 them but too far off to permit me to fire. Then one 

 of them stops for a moment on an ant-hill to look at 

 us. We increase our pace, and several times see the 

 whole troop ; the female walking in front with her 

 cubs, the male in the rear. Every now and then he 

 turns round to look askance at us. What a monster ! 

 And he is without a mane ! 



As I have already said, the heat is terrible. Now 

 and then the lions, tired of walking, stop to rest in 

 the shade. But they trot away again, and cross an 

 almost bare plain without giving me an opportunity 

 to fire, being more than 100 yards off. A small 

 wood of " mitsagnas," which we cross on their heels, 

 is next encountered, and the lioness disappears with 

 her cubs on to a grassy plain where it is useless to 

 go in search of them. It is so hot, we have not the 

 strength to express regret. 



Discouraged, we stop for a moment in the shade. 

 I place the hammers of my rifle at half-cock, hand it 

 to Kambombe, and hold out my hand for my stick. 

 But Kambombe had forgotten to pick it up when I 

 threw it down. He does not usually forget things ; 

 but this time, in the excitement caused by meeting 



