WITH FLASH-LIGHT AND RIFLE 



beasts of prey and are making in haste for the wide 

 steppe. 



Now the roar of a lion is heard dangerously near. 

 My men are aroused from their sleep and stir the 

 camp-fires. Those on the outskirts of the camp draw 

 nearer the centre, the Askari guards become more 

 watchful. The precaution is afterwards proved neces- 

 sary, for next morning the impressions of mighty paws 

 are to be seen not far from where some of my men had 

 been sleeping before they drew nearer the fires. 



I know very well that my statement that lions may 

 be found together in troops will not easily be credited ; 

 but my experience has proved this to be the case — 

 fortunately for me, inasmuch as the number of lions 

 prowling around my camp at the time of which I am 

 speaking greatly facilitated my attempts to photograph 

 them at night l:)y means of flash-light. The best proof 

 that I finally succeeded in doing so, in .spite of the 

 enormous diriiculties and notwithstanding many abor- 

 tive efforts, lies in the pictures to be found in this book. 



My method of procedure was simple enough, but 

 dangerous. Towards evening I would l)ind some ani- 

 mal, as a rule an ass, to a tree near the path of the 

 beasts. The animals used as bait are not exposed to 

 any suffering, for the lion kills his prey quickly with 

 one bite in the neck. Taking mv stand near by, and 

 placing the apparatus in position, I waited until I 

 heard and saw the beast approach its prey. It goes 



78 



