WILD LIFE ACROSS THE WORLD 



had done so my chances of escape would have been 

 practically nil. The fire, however, was more than 

 the brute dared to face, Snd it slunk away, still 

 giving vent to its wrath and pain in blood-curdling 

 grunts. 



Shortly afterwards the car returned with its 

 disappointed occupants, who had to admit that such 

 a method of lion hunting was not very successful. 



Despite this latest attempt upon their lives, the 

 lions were not in the least frightened, for a week 

 later another new officer visited us, and was rather 

 incredulous about the presence of such fearsome 

 creatures on an aerodrome. The uncanny sensation of 

 watching their eyes gleaming in the darkness as they 

 circled round and round the camp-fire soon caused 

 him to change his opinion. 



In order to show the boldness of the brutes, I 

 may mention that early one morning I saw a herd 

 of zebras come dashing straight for the aerodrome. 

 Suddenly the whole bunch swerved and missed us, and 

 as they did so I caught sight of two lions in hot 

 pursuit. When close to our camp the pursuers gave 

 up the chase and turned back. 



This little episode recreated the desire among 

 my five mechanics to bag a specimen of the king of 

 beasts. They asked me to help them in the matter. 

 I agreed to do so, and we built a platform in a tree 

 about twenty feet from the ground. Underneath 



236 



