TANGANYIKA LIONS 269^ 



that I might some day see with my own eyes what 

 lions really were. 



We ttimed out next morning with the stars still lit; 

 velvet night except where a little of the dawn slipped 

 up over the eastern horizon. We carried guns; 

 but at Carl's behest we agreed not to shoot imless 

 absolutely necessary. 



"I don't believe this herd has ever been dis- 

 turbed," he again declared. But still I doubted. 



For hours we moved across the dry and rocky 

 plain. A blazing tropical sun rolled over the edge 

 of the world and struck us heavily with its rays. 

 Dust sifted up from underfoot and bit like acid into 

 our panting nostrils. We were drenched with 

 sweat. 



In mid-morning we followed Carl up a slight rise 

 and entered a shallow depression between two hills. 

 Suddenly he paused. 



"Here it is," he said and pointed ahead. 



At that very instant I saw a brownish shadow 

 disappear into the grass that fronted a small donga 

 or ravine on our right. 



We proceeded. Soon we saw another lion. He 

 seemed to be passing on a coiu-se opposite to ours. 

 He did not even look our way. Did he fail to see us? 

 Or was Carl's wonderful promise coming true? 



Then abruptly and without the slightest warning 

 we came upon eleven full-grown lions. I gasped. All 



