66 SAVAGE SUDAN 



ment at their intrusion were speedily dissolved when, 

 a few minutes later, one Baggara dropped quickly and 

 pointing ahead with his spear, hissed "Assad!" ( = Lion). 

 Barely 200 yards in front a glorious tawny-maned lion was 

 slowly strolling from the riverside reeds towards the forest 

 inland, the north wind blowing masses of golden hair over 

 his ears. The lion presented a slow-moving shot not 

 difficult, but with room to miss. On his front lay patches 



"A Row OF BRILLIANT BEE-EATERS" (Merops pusUla). 



of thick scrub, and something in his demeanour convinced 

 me that he would "lay up" in one or other of these. He 

 passed through the first, hesitated in the second, and 

 disappeared from view in the third. The spoor, however, 

 showed that he had held his course, and I saw him no 

 more. The chance was gone. I had selected, as events 

 proved, a wrong choice- possibly from undue deliberation, 

 though none could tell in advance. Still to have had 

 offered, on consecutive mornings, fair chances at both 

 leopard and lion, and to have availed neither, must leave 

 an unspeakable sense of chagrin deep down in one's 

 breast. None can afford to waste opportunities. 



