vu DISTRICT OFFICER’S NARROW ESCAPE 81 
against the lions were further strengthened. Mr. 
Farquhar, the Superintendent of Police, arrived from 
the coast with a score of sepoys to assist in hunting 
down the man-eaters, whose fame had by this time 
spread far and wide, and the most elaborate pre- 
cautions were taken, his men being posted on the 
most convenient trees near every camp. Several 
other officials had also come up on leave to join in 
the chase, and each of these guarded a likely spot 
in the same way, Mr. Whitehead sharing my post 
inside the crib on the girder. Further, in spite of 
some chaff, my lion trap was put in thorough 
working order, and two of the sepoys were installed 
as bait. 
Our preparations were quite complete by night- 
fall, and we all took up our appointed positions. 
Nothing happened until about nine o'clock, when to 
my great satisfaction the intense stillness was 
suddenly broken by the noise of the door of the 
trap clattering down. ‘At last,” I thought, ‘one 
at least of the brutes is done for.” But the sequel 
was an ignominious one. 
The bait-sepoys had a lamp burning inside their 
part of the cage, and were each armed with a 
Martini rifle, with plenty of ammunition. They had 
also been given strict orders to shoot at once if a 
lion should enter the trap. Instead of doing so, 
however, they were so terrified when he rushed in 
G 
