132 IN AFRICA 



swamps, scouting every bit of cover and combing 

 the tall grass for hours at a time. Hartebeest, topi, 

 zebra, eland, oribi, reedbuck, and small grass ante- 

 lope were upon all sides and at all times. 



The herds of zebra and hartebeest literally num- 

 bered thousands, but, except as the latter were 

 occasionally required for food for the porters, we 

 seldom tried to shoot them. Every Boer settler we 

 saw was interviewed and every promising lion clue 

 was followed to the bitter end, but without result. 

 Sometimes we remained in one camp a day or more 

 in order to search the lion retreats more thoroughly, 

 but never a black-maned lion was routed from his 

 lair. A few weeks later, when the dry grass had 

 been burned to make way for new grass, as is done 

 each year, the chances would be greatly improved, 

 and we hoped for better luck when we retraced our 

 steps from Elgon in December. Before that time 

 it would be like trying to find a needle in a hay- 

 stack to find a lion in the tall grass, and a good deal 

 more dangerous if we did find one. There were lots 

 of them there, but they were taking excellent care 

 of themselves. In July, three months previous, 

 Mr. McMillan, Mr. Selous, and Mr. Williams were 

 in this same district after black-maned lions. They 

 heard them every night, but saw only one in several 

 weeks. This one, however, made a distinct impres- 

 sion. Williams saw it one day and wounded it at 

 two hundred yards. The lion charged and could 

 not be stopped by Williams' bullets. It was only 

 after it had leaped on the hunter and frightfully 



