248 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



and stared at him. Although he was not seventy 

 yards away from me, yet owing to the nature of the 

 background it was very difficult to make him out, 

 especially as he kept his head perfectly still, gazing 

 steadily at me. It was only when the great mouth 

 opened in an angry snarl that I could see plainly 

 what he really was. For a few seconds we stood 

 thus and looked at each other ; then he growled 

 again and made off after the lioness. As I could 

 not get a fair shot at him from where I stood, I ran 

 with all my might for a point of vantage from which 

 I might have a better chance of bagging him as he 

 passed. 



Now by this time I had almost got beyond the 

 surprise stage where lions were concerned ; yet I 

 must admit that I was thoroughly startled and 

 brought to a full stop in the middle of my race 

 by seeing no less than four more lionesses jump up 

 from the covert which the lion had just left. In the 

 twinkling of an eye three of them had disappeared 

 after their lord in long, low bounds, but the fourth 

 stood broadside on, looking, not at me, but at my 

 followers, who by this time were grouped together 

 and talking and gesticulating excitedly. This gave 

 me a splendid chance for a shoulder shot at about 

 fifty yards' distance, so I knelt down at once and 

 fired after taking careful aim. The lioness dis- 

 appeared from sight instantly, and on looking over 



