226 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



As it was now growing late, I made all haste back 

 to where I had left Mahina skinning the lion, but to 

 my astonishment he was nowhere to be seen. I 

 fired several shots and shouted myself hoarse, all 

 without response ; and the only conclusion I could 

 come to was that he had returned to the camp at the 

 temporary bridge. I accordingly pushed on, reach- 

 ing home long after dark ; and there I found Mahina 

 safe and sound, with the lion's skin already pegged 

 out to dry, so that I could not find it in my heart to give 

 him the severe scolding he deserved for having 

 returned without me. Next morning I packed up 

 my trophies and returned to my work at railhead. 

 On my way back I happened to meet one of the 

 other engineers, who called out, " Hallo ! I hear 

 you have got a fine line." 



My thoughts being full of my adventures of the 

 day before, I answered : " Yes, I did ; but how on 

 earth did you hear of it ? " 



" Oh ! " he said, " Reynolds told me." 



"Good heavens," I replied, "why, he left before 

 I shot it." 



" Shot ? " he exclaimed, " whatever do you 

 mean ? " 



" Didn't you say," I asked, "that you heard I 

 had got a fine lion ? " 



" No, no," was his reply ; " a fine line for the tem- 

 porary bridge over the river." 



