28 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CH. Il 
bad fright. This same man, however, met with a 
melancholy fate not long afterwards. He had been 
to the Kilima N’jaro district to buy cattle, and on 
the return journey attempted to take a short cut 
across country to the railway, but perished miserably 
of thirst on the way. 
On another occasion fourteen coolies who slept 
together ina large tent were one night awakened by a 
lion suddenly jumping on to the tent and breaking 
through it. The brute landed with one claw on a 
coolie’s shoulder, which was badly torn ; but instead 
of seizing the man himself, in his hurry he grabbed 
a large bag of rice which happened to be lying in the 
tent, and made off with it, dropping it in disgust 
some little distance away when he realised his 
mistake. 
These, however, were only the earlier efforts of 
the man-eaters. Later on, as will be seen, nothing 
flurried or frightened them in the least, and except 
as food they showed a complete contempt for human 
beings. Having once marked down a victim, they 
would allow nothing to deter them from securing 
him, whether he were protected by a thick fence, or 
inside a closed tent, or sitting beside a brightly 
burning fire. Shots, shouting and firebrands they 
alike held in derision. 
