250 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 



not at all like the look of him, and if there had 

 been another tree close by, I should certainly have 

 scrambled up it into safety before attempting to fire. 

 As a matter of fact, however, there was no shelter 

 of any kind at hand ; so, as I meant to have a try 

 for him at all costs, I sat down where I was, about 

 sixty yards from him, and covered his great head 

 with my rifle. I was so breathless after my run, 

 and my arms were so shaky, that it was all I could 

 do to keep the sight on the fierce-looking target ; 

 and I thought to myself, as the rifle barrel wobbled 

 about, " If I don't knock him over with the first 

 shot, he will be out of these bushes and down on 

 me like greased lightning and then I know what 

 to expect." It was a most exciting moment, but in 

 spite of the risk I would not have missed it for the 

 world ; so, taking as steady an aim as was possible in 

 the circumstances, I pulled the trigger. Instantly 

 the shaggy head disappeared from view, and such a 

 succession of angry roars and growls came up out 

 of the bushes that I was fairly startled, and felt 

 keenly anxious to finish him off before he could 

 charge out and cover the short distance which 

 separated us. I therefore fired half a dozen shots 

 into the bushes at the spot where I imagined he lay, 

 and soon the growling and commotion ceased, and 

 all was still. I was confident the brute was dead, 

 so I called up one of the men to stay and watch the 



