202 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



looking at us, I had, of course, a grand opportunity 

 of dropping both, but I confess I did not feel equal 

 to it at the moment. I could only devoutly hope 

 that they would not renew their attack, and was 

 only too thankful to let them depart in peace if they 

 would, without any further hostility on my part. 

 Just at this juncture the lion seemed to grow 

 suddenly very weak. He staggered some ten yards 

 back towards his lair, and then fell to the ground ; 

 the lioness followed, and lay down beside him both 

 still watching us, and growling savagely. After a 

 few seconds the lion struggled to his feet again and 

 retreated a little further, the lioness accompanying 

 him until he fell once more. A third time the same 

 thing took place, and at last I began to breathe more 

 freely, as they had now reached the thicket from 

 which they had originally emerged. Accordingly 

 I took a shot at the lioness as she lay beside her 

 mate, partly concealed in the long grass. I do not 

 think I hit her, but anyhow she at once made off 

 and bounded away at a great rate on emerging into 

 the open. 



I sent a few bullets after her to speed her on her 

 way, and then cautiously approached the wounded 

 lion. He was stretched out at full length on his 

 side, with his back towards me, but I could see by 

 the heaving of his flanks that he was not yet dead, 

 so I put a bullet through his spine. He never 



