xx HOW ROSHAN KHAN SAVED MY LIFE 249 
the top of the grass I saw that my shot had told, as 
she was on her back, clawing the air and growling 
viciously. As she looked to me to be done for, I 
shouted to some of the men to remain behind and 
watch her, while I set off once more at a run to try 
to catch up the lion. I feared that the check with 
the lioness might have lost him to me altogether, 
but to my relief I soon caught sight of him again. 
He had not made off very quickly, and had probably 
stopped several times to see what I was up to; 
indeed the men, who could see him all the time, 
afterwards told me that when he heard the growl of 
rage from the lioness after she was shot, he made 
quite along halt, apparently deliberating whether he 
should return to her rescue. Evidently, however, 
he had decided that discretion was the better part of 
valour. Fortunately he was travelling leisurely, 
and I was delighted to find that I was gaining on 
him fast; but I had still to run about two hundred 
yards at my best pace, which, at an altitude of more 
than 5,000 feet above sea-level, leaves one very 
breathless at the end of it. 
When the lion perceived me running towards 
him, he took up his station under a tree, where he 
was half hidden by some low bushes, above which 
only his head showed. Here he stood, watching 
my every movement and giving vent to his anger 
at my presence in low, threatening growls. I did 
