68 PEACE: LION HUNTING 



with a somewhat mixed anticipation that perhaps 

 a lively time was coming. Next morning, after 

 breakfast, having seen that the cartridges in the 

 magazine were all clean and ready, we set off to 

 take up once more the tracks of the wounded 

 beast. Starting, according to my custom, when 

 ready without saying a word, I was pleased to note 

 that all my boys, bearers as well as hunters, fell 

 into line behind me, with, of course, the two 

 bushmen. The dozen natives, all armed with 

 spears, and following in single line, looked quite 

 formidable, though I was aware not much reliance 

 could be placed on my army. Little Boombo, 

 who was not with me the previous day, now walked 

 last of my followers, and I sung out for him to 

 come to the front with me. He came up the line 

 with a somewhat jaunty swing of the shoulders, 

 receiving encouragement and probably chaff from 

 the other natives, and from his expression it might 

 be inferred that he judged the honour somewhat 

 doubtful. 



We soon picked up the tracks of the lions, but 

 it was wretched country for the pursuit. Twice 

 the boys cleared out with a false alarm, and it was 

 plain they were all a trifle " jumpy." The second 

 lioness had joined the other two, and we saw 

 where they had been lying down, the big male 

 leaving signs of blood at his stopping-place. 

 Presently the tracks led out of the thorn bush, 

 and away back right over the same country and 

 over nearly the same spot where I had shot the 



