92 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 
persuade myself that even yet the “devil” might 
not have eluded me in some uncanny and mysterious 
way. Happily my fears proved groundless, and [| 
was relieved to find that my luck—after playing me 
sO many exasperating tricks—had really turned at 
last. I had scarcely traced the blood for more than 
‘© HIS LENGTH FROM TIP OF NOSE TO TIP OF TAIL WAS NINE FEET 
EIGHT INCHES.” 
a few paces when, on rounding a bush, I was startled 
to see a huge lion right in front of me, seemingly 
alive and crouching for a_ spring. On looking 
closer, however, I satisfied myself that he was 
really and truly stone-dead, whereupon my followers 
crowded round, laughed and danced and shouted 
with joy like children, and bore me in triumph 
shoulder-high round the dead body. ‘These thanks- 
