82 PEACE: LION HUNTING 



to his own headquarters. But the same lion, 

 evidently running up the tracks of the cattle, 

 followed him right home during the night and, 

 breaking in through his stockade of poles, seized 

 and killed two of the donkeys I had brought over 

 from German South- West. Again disturbed and 

 fired at, the lion made off once more, but returned 

 yet again the following night, when he was shot 

 by a volley fired by a Dutchman and several 

 natives, who were all perched in trees on the look- 

 out for him. This particularly bold lion was still 

 in his prime and very fat, unusual in these cases. 



My three little piccaninnies stuck to me faith- 

 fully and nursed me, little savages though they 

 were, all through my sickness. 



It was about August 20 that a native came to 

 my camp with letters from the Native Com- 

 missioner, Mr. Venning, from Sesheke. In the 

 letters was the terrible news of the outbreak of 

 war at home. Never shall I forget reading the 

 opening lines of his letter : " You will no doubt 

 be surprised to learn that Germany and Austria 

 are fighting nearly every other European nation, 

 including England/' The shock was tremendous, 

 and I fretted at lying there crippled, alone in a 

 tent away beyond the Quandoo, when all my 

 relatives and fellow-countrymen would be taking 

 their part in the gigantic struggle. Of course it 

 made me more anxious than ever to get well 

 quickly, for I felt that my knowledge of those 

 parts of German S.W., which but few other 



