xxiv BHOOTA'S LAST SHIKAR 277 



had diverted the lion's attention from me and 

 had drawn the whole fury of the charge on to 

 himself. 



All this, of course, happened in only a second or 

 two. In the short instant that intervened, I felt a 

 cartridge thrust into my hand by Spooner's plucky 

 servant, Imam Din, 

 who had carried the 

 1 2 -bore all day and 

 who had stuck to me 

 gallantly throughout 

 the charge ; and 

 shoving it in, I rushed 

 as quickly as I could 

 to Bhoota's rescue. 

 Meanwhile, Spooner 



had got there before :< SPOONER'S PLUCKY SERVANT, IMAM 



DIN." 



me and when I came 



up actually had his left hand on the lion's flank, in a 

 vain attempt to push him off Bhoota's prostrate 

 body and so get at the heavy rifle which the poor 

 fellow still stoutly clutched. The lion, however, was 

 so busily engaged mauling Bhoota's arm that he paid 

 not the slightest attention to Spooner's efforts. Un- 

 fortunately, as he was facing straight in my direc- 

 tion, I had to move up in full view of him, and the 

 moment I reached his head, he stopped chewing 

 the arm, though still holding it in his mouth, 

 and threw himself back on his haunches, prepar- 



