XXIV BHOOTA’S LAST SHIKAR 271 
nothing to obstruct wheeled traffic. Once started, 
we rattled over the smooth expanse at a good rate, 
and on the way bagged a hartebeeste and a couple 
of gazelle, as fresh meat was badly needed in camp ; 
besides, they offered most tempting shots, for they 
stood stock-still gazing at us, struck no doubt by 
the novel appearance of our conveyance. Next we 
came upon a herd of wildebeeste, and here we 
allowed Bhoota, who was a wary shzkarz and an old 
servant of Spooner’s, to stalk a solitary bull. He 
was highly pleased at this favour, and did the job 
admirably. 
At last we reached the spot where I had seen the 
two lions on the previous day—a slight hollow, 
covered with long grass; but there was now no 
trace of them to be discovered, so we moved further 
on and had another good beat round. After some 
little time the excitement began by our spying the 
black-tipped ears of a lioness projecting above the 
grass, and the next moment a very fine lion arose 
from beside her and gave us a full view of his grand 
head and mane. After staring fixedly at us in an 
inquiring sort of way as we slowly advanced upon 
them, they both turned and slowly trotted off, the 
lion stopping every now and again to gaze round in 
our direction. Very imposing and majestic he looked, 
too, as he thus turned his great shaggy head 
defiantly towards us, and Spooner had to admit 
