CHAPTER VIII 



THE DEATH OF THE FIRST MAN-EATER 



A DAY or two after the departure of my allies, 

 as I was leaving my boma soon after dawn on 

 December 9, I saw a Swahili running excitedly 

 towards me, shouting out " Simba ! Simba / " (" Lion ! 

 Lion ! "), and every now and again looking behind 

 him as he ran. On questioning him I found that 

 the lions had tried to snatch a man from the camp 

 by the river, but being foiled in this had seized 

 and killed one of the donkeys, and were at that 

 moment busy devouring it not far off. Now was 

 my chance ! 



I rushed for the heavy rifle which Farquhar had 

 kindly left with me for use in case an opportunity 

 such as this should arise, and, led by the Swahili, I 

 started most carefully to stalk the lions, who, I 

 devoutly hoped, were confining their attention 

 strictly to their meal. I was getting on splendidly, 

 and could just make out the outline of one of them 

 through the dense bush, when unfortunately my 



