274 After Big Game in Central Africa 



arrive. The least sound makes me prick up my ears, 

 for I expect his return at any moment. If he sees 

 that his companion is dead, and that his cubs have 

 disappeared, he will not be in the best of humours, 

 and then any one who is in his way, beware ! . . . 

 But he does not return. . . . Soon the rustling of 

 grass and a well-known whistle announce the approach 

 of my men, who make this signal to know whether 

 they can appear. Upon receiving my answer in the 

 affirmative, they appear on the scene ; the feet of the 

 lioness are bound together, a pole is passed between 

 them, and we set off to the camp. 1 



I was afterwards informed that my men had de- 

 clared to Rodzani, who had advised them to make a 

 stockade for the night, that this precaution was un- 

 necessary ; that they would sleep quite well as things 

 were ; and that, besides, there were no thorns, etc. 

 But after Kambombe brought the cubs to the camp, 

 when the many spoor of their parents were counted on 

 the river bank, and when the body of the lioness 

 was carried in, everybody changed his opinion with 

 great rapidity. Heaps of thorns were found imme- 

 diately, and a veritable fortification, inside which was 

 enough firewood for two nights, was made. 



It is into this stronghold we retire, and the whole 

 night through, in the glare of the big fires, we enjoy 

 a lions' concert such as we have never heard before. 

 The unfortunate widower must have assembled the 



1 I regretted, but too late, not having remained in wait for the 

 lion. He left his family doubtless to search for food, and would 

 certainly have returned before night. 



