96 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 
cautiously, and on _ getting up to the _ place 
discovered that he had indeed escaped us, 
leaving two of the goats scarcely touched. 
Thinking that in all probability the lion would 
return as usual to finish his meal, I had a very 
strong scaffolding put up a few feet away from the 
dead goats, and took up my position on it before 
dark. On this occasion I brought my gun-bearer, 
Mahina, to take a turn at watching, as I was by 
this time worn out for want of sleep, having spent 
so many nights on the look-out. I was just dozing 
off comfortably when suddenly I felt my arm 
seized, and on looking up saw Mahina pointing 
in the direction of the goats. “Sher /” (“Lion!”) 
was all he whispered. I grasped my double 
smooth-bore, which I had charged with slug, and 
waited patiently. In a few moments I was 
rewarded, for as I watched the spot where I 
expected the lion to appear, there was a rustling 
among the bushes and I saw him stealthily emerge 
into the open and pass almost directly beneath 
us. I fired both barrels practically together into 
his shoulder, and to my joy could see him go 
down under the force of the blow. Quickly 
I reached for the magazine rifle, but before I 
could use it, he was out of sight among the bushes, 
and I had to fire after him quite at random. 
Nevertheless I was confident of getting him in 
