vii DISTRICT OFFICER'S NARROW ESCAPE 81 



against the lions were further strengthened. Mr. 

 Farquhar, the Superintendent of Police, arrived from 

 the coast with a score of sepoys to assist in hunting 

 down the man-eaters, whose fame had by this time 

 spread far and wide, and the most elaborate pre- 

 cautions were taken, his men being posted on the 

 most convenient trees near every camp. Several 

 other officials had also come up on leave to join in 

 the chase, and each of these guarded a likely spot 

 in the same way, Mr. Whitehead sharing my post 

 inside the crib on the girder. Further, in spite of 

 some chaff, my lion trap was put in thorough 

 working order, and two of the sepoys were installed 

 as bait. 



Our preparations were quite complete by night- 

 fall, and we all took up our appointed positions. 

 Nothing happened until about nine o'clock, when to 

 my great satisfaction the intense stillness was 

 suddenly broken by the noise of the door of the 

 trap clattering down. "At last," I thought, "one 

 at least of the brutes is done for." But the sequel 

 was an ignominious one. 



The bait-sepoys had a lamp burning inside their 

 part of the cage, and were each armed with a 

 Martini rifle, with plenty of ammunition. They had 

 also been given strict orders to shoot at once if a 

 lion should enter the trap. Instead of doing so, 

 however, they were so terrified when he rushed in 



Q 



