100 IN AFRICA 



one mule that we had dared to bring down the Tana 

 River. It was evident that something important 

 had occurred and we hurried on to meet him. 



"Swnbaf he shouted, as soon as he could be heard. 

 In a moment we had the details. One of the saises 

 had seen two lions, a large male and female, quite 

 near the camp. Porters were instructed to watch 

 the beasts until we should arrive, and now were sup- 

 posed to be in touch with them. We omitted lunch- 

 eon and struck off at once in the direction indicated 

 by the tent boy. We soon came up to the porters 

 and an instant later saw the lions. It was a beauti- 

 ful sight. The two animals were majestically walk- 

 ing up the rocky slope of a low, fire-scorched hill 

 a few hundred yards away. The male was a splen- 

 did beast, with all the splendid dignity of one who 

 fears nothing in the whole wide world. From time 

 to time the two lions stopped and looked back at us, 

 but with no sign of fear. Several times they lay 

 down, but soon would resume their stately course 

 up among the rocks. 



I shall never forget the picture that lay before 

 me. It was as though some famous lion painting 

 of Gerome or Landseer had come to life, sometimes 

 the animals being outlined clearly against the blue 

 sky and at other times standing, with splendid 

 heads erect, upon the rocks of the low ridge that 

 rose ahead of us. 



We stalked them easily. Several porters were 

 left where the lions could constantly see them, 

 while we three, Akeley, Stephenson and I, with our 



