38 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



nately, however, he had just time to escape up a 

 tree, where he remained, more dead than alive, 

 until he was rescued by the Traffic Manager, who 

 caught sight of him from a passing train. They 

 next appeared close to Tsavo Station, and a couple 

 of hours later some workmen saw one of the lions 

 stalking Dr. Brock as he was returning about dusk 

 from the hospital. 



In accordance with our plan, the doctor and I set 

 out after dinner for the goods-wagon, which was 

 about a mile away from our hut. In the light of 

 subsequent events, we did a very foolish thing in 

 taking up our position so late ; nevertheless, we 

 reached our destination in safety, and settled down 

 to our watch about ten o'clock. We had the lower 

 half of the door of the wagon closed, while the 

 upper half was left wide open for observation : and 

 we faced, of course, in the direction of the abandoned 

 bovia, which, however, we were unable to see in the 

 inky darkness. For an hour or two everything was 

 quiet, and the deadly silence was becoming very 

 monotonous and oppressive, when suddenly, to our 

 right, a dry twig snapped, and we knew that an 

 animal of some sort was about. Soon afterwards 

 we heard a dull thud, as if some heavy body had 

 jumped over the boma. The cattle, too, became 

 very uneasy, and we could hear them moving about 

 restlessly. Then again came dead silence. 



