96 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



cautiously, and on getting up to the place 

 discovered that he had indeed escaped us, 

 leaving two of the goats scarcely touched. 



Thinking that in all probability the lion would 

 return as usual to finish his meal, I had a very 

 strong scaffolding put up a few feet away from the 

 dead goats, and took up my position on it before 

 dark. On this occasion I brought my gun-bearer, 

 Mahina, to take a turn at watching, as I was by 

 this time worn out for want of sleep, having spent 

 so many nights on the look-out. I was just dozing 

 off comfortably when suddenly I felt my arm 

 seized, and on looking up saw Mahina pointing 

 in the direction of the goats. "S/ier/" ("Lion!") 

 was all he whispered. I grasped my double 

 smooth-bore, which I had charged with slug, and 

 waited patiently. In a few moments I was 

 rewarded, for as I watched the spot where I 

 expected the lion to appear, there was a rustling 

 among the bushes and I saw him stealthily emerge 

 into the open and pass almost directly beneath 

 us. I fired both barrels practically together into 

 his shoulder, and to my joy could see him go 

 down under the force of the blow. Quickly 

 I reached for the magazine rifle, but before I 

 could use it, he was out of sight among the bushes, 

 and I had to fire after him quite at random. 

 Nevertheless I was confident of getting him in 



