246 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



down to watch the proceedings. He made a 

 beautiful stalk, which was rendered really very 

 difficult by the open nature of the country, but 

 still the wildebeeste quickly noticed his approach 

 and kept steadily moving on, until at last they 

 disappeared over one of the gentle rises which are 

 such a feature of the Athi Plains. 



I still sat and waited, expecting every moment to 

 hear the sound of Brock's rifle. Some time elapsed 

 without a shot, however, and I was just about to 

 follow him up and find out how things were going, 

 when Roshan Khan suddenly exclaimed excitedly : 

 " Dekko, Sahib, shenzi ata hain /" (" Look, Sahib, 

 the savages are coming ! " ). I was not in the least 

 alarmed at this somewhat startling announcement, 

 as the Indians called all the natives of the interior 

 of Africa shenzi, or savages ; and on looking 

 round I saw five tall, slim Masai approaching in 

 Indian file, each carrying a six-foot spear in 

 his right hand. On coming nearer, the leader of 

 the party eagerly asked in Swahili, "What does 

 the Bwana Makubwa (" Great Master ") desire ? " 



" Simba" ("Lions"), said I. 



"Come," he replied, " I will show you many." 



This filled me with interest at once. " How far 

 away are they ? " I asked. 



" M'bali kidogo " (" A little distance "), came the 

 stereotyped reply. 



