86 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



partially concealed from view, and if his attention 

 had not been so fully occupied by the noise behind 

 him, he must have observed me. As he was 

 oblivious to my presence, however, I let him 

 approach to within about fifteen yards of me, 

 and then covered him with my rifle. The moment 

 I moved to do this, he caught sight of me, and 

 seemed much astonished at my sudden appearance, 

 for he stuck his forefeet into the ground, threw 

 himself back on his haunches and growled savagely. 

 As I covered his brain with my rifle, i felt that 

 at last I had him absolutely at my mercy, but 

 .... never trust an untried weapon ! I pulled 

 the trigger, and to my horror heard the dull snap 

 that tells of a misfire. 



Worse was to follow. I was so taken aback 

 and disconcerted by this untoward accident that 

 I entirely forgot to fire the left barrel, and 

 lowered the rifle from my shoulder with the 

 intention of reloading if I should be given time. 

 Fortunately for me, the lion was so distracted 

 by the terrific din and uproar of the coolies behind 

 him that instead of springing on me, as might have 

 been expected, he bounded aside into the jungle 

 again. By this time I had collected my wits, and 

 just as he jumped I let him have the left barrel. An 

 answering angry growl told me that he had been hit ; 

 but nevertheless he succeeded once more in getting 

 clear away, for although I tracked him for some little 



