CHAPTER II 



INTELLIGENCE SCOUT 



Our horses and mules duly procured, we started 

 away from Livingstone, crossing the Zambezi at 

 Sesheke, and picking up there the eight Marosi 

 (" Barotse ") who were detailed to me as govern- 

 ment runners for sending reports. It was glorious 

 to be in the bush again and to feel that, after all, 

 one was of some use. 



Before reaching the Quandoo I had my first 

 shot at a buck since the encounter with the lion. 

 I found that now I had to pull the trigger with the 

 second finger, and in spite of this I managed to 

 kill a sable at the first attempt. It was a simple 

 pot shot, but it pleased me hugely, besides giving 

 me confidence. 



In nine days from Sesheke we reached the 

 Quandoo, crossing late in the evening and camping 

 on the bank of the river. That night we had a 

 great welcome from the lions ; five of them, at 

 least, roared almost continually till daybreak. 

 Probably, when coming to water, they had struck 

 our track along the river and followed up the scent 

 of our horses and mules. Neither before nor since 

 have I heard quite so much of their lordly noise. 



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