xxn HOW ROSHAN KHAN SAVED MY LIFE 247 



I immediately had a good look round for Brock, 

 but could see no sign of him, so, in case the " many " 

 lions should get away in the meantime, I told the 

 Masai to lead the way, and off we started. 



As usual, the mbali kidogo proved a good distance 

 over two miles in this case. Indeed, I began to 

 get impatient at the long tramp, and called out to 

 the Masai to know where his lions were ; but he 

 vouchsafed me no answer and continued to walk 

 steadily on, casting keen glances ahead. After a 

 little I again asked, " Where are the lions ? " This 

 time he extended his spear in a most dramatic 

 manner, and pointing to a clump of trees just ahead, 

 exclaimed : " Look, Master ; there are the lions." 

 I looked, and at once caught sight of a lioness 

 trotting off behind the bushes. I also saw some 

 suspicious-looking thing at the foot of one of the big 

 trees, but came to the conclusion that it was only 

 a growth of some kind projecting from the trunk. 

 I was soon to be undeceived, however, for as I 

 started to run towards the trees in order to cut off 

 the fast disappearing lioness from a stretch of rushes 

 for which she was making, a low and sinister growl 

 made me look closer at the object which had first 

 aroused my suspicions. To my surprise and delight 

 I saw that it was the head of a huge black-maned 

 lion peering out from behind the trunk of the tree, 

 which completely hid his body. I pulled up short 



