CHAPTER XXIV 



BHOOTA'S LAST SHIKAR 



LONG after I had retired to rest that night I lay 

 awake listening to roar answering roar in every 

 direction round our camp, and realised that we were 

 indeed in the midst of a favourite haunt of the king 

 of beasts. It is one thing to hear a lion in captivity, 

 when one knows he is safe behind iron bars ; but 

 quite another to listen to him when he is ramping 

 around in the vicinity of one's fragile tent, which 

 with a single blow he could tear to pieces. Still, 

 all this roaring was of good omen for the next 

 day's sport. 



According to our over-night arrangement, we 

 were up betimes in the morning, but as there was a 

 great deal of work to be done before we could get 

 away, it was quite midday before we made ready to 

 start. I ought to mention before going further that 

 as a rule Spooner declined my company on shooting 

 trips, as he was convinced that I should get 



