274 SAFARI 



Carl's illness gave Osa her chance to go with me. 

 She had been nearly frantic with curiosity after 

 hearing oiir story of the lions who didn't mind men. 

 She dressed quickly and we set off at top speed 

 along the trail to our Garden of Eden. 



At first we came on only single animals and pairs. 

 But about nine o'clock we suddenly foimd fourteen 

 scattered about near the spot where we had seen the 

 group the day before. I tiuned and watched Osa's 

 face. It was worth coming all the way down to 

 Tanganyika to see it light up. She held her breath at 

 first; and her voice shook with emotion when she 

 exclaimed: "I never dreamed I should see anything 

 so beautiful in this world!" 



Cameras were made ready as before, and porters 

 sent back so we should not seem too big a body to the 

 animals. Slowly we moved toward the lions who 

 watched us ciuiously. 



This time they were more restless and alert; 

 perhaps because the day was cooler. As a result the 

 situation was so dangerous that it needed but a few 

 bounds from the nearest of the powerful cats to finish 

 us off. Of course we had two gims ; but as I was busy 

 with the cameras, Osa held the only rifle that was 

 ready. 



After we got so close we could not make decent 

 pictiu'es by reducing the distance we began to use 

 different cameras and lens combinations to be sure 



