xii AN ADVENTURE WITH LIONS 151 



hoped therefore that it had found its billet in the 

 body of the lion, especially as B.'s loophole was 

 a little nearer to the eland than the other two. 

 Accordingly we set out and hunted for a trail of 

 blood, but though we searched eagerly in every 

 direction, we could not find any trace of the 

 wounded animal. We continued the hunt for many 

 hours, but eventually had to give it up. I have no 

 doubt that the wounded lion must have got into a great 

 bed of reeds, some miles in extent, which grew in a 

 swamp not far off. 



Although we were naturally much disappointed 

 in not being able to find him, yet I shall always 

 remember that night as one of the most thrilling 

 and exciting and withal enjoyable that I have ever 

 spent in the wilds. 



