230 SPORT IN ASIA AND AFRICA 



bank of the ravine in pursuit of the lioness, some 

 negroes, who had followed us from the camp, saw 

 the two cubs pass behind us down the ravine. 



Gimlette was very lame, having had trouble 

 with a jigger, and the situation appeared to be 

 hopeless ; but the sequel showed what may be 

 achieved by perseverance, even when the odds 

 are heavily against one. 



I took the right bank of the ravine and Gimlette 

 took the left, which was the side near to the 

 broken ground and jungle on the bank of the 

 stream, and we worked slowly down the ravine. 

 The lions were unusually bold, and there was good 

 cover in the ravine for some distance, so they 

 made no great hurry to escape, and moved along 

 slowly in front of us through the thick cover. As 

 it approached the stream the ravine became 

 wider and the cover was not so good, and the lions 

 left the ravine and made for the broken ground 

 and cover fringing the stream. They were within 

 shot of Gimlette while they did this, and, as they 

 were walking through some high grass, he fired 

 and put a bullet into the lioness. The two young 

 ones than galloped away, and Gimlette fired at 

 them, but without effect. The lioness, on being 

 wounded, went into a small, dense thicket, which 

 was close by on the edge of the ravine, and there 

 remained. Hearing the firing, I crossed the ravine 

 and found Gimlette watching the thicket. There 

 appeared to be no possibility of driving the lioness 

 out, and Gimlette, who was determined not to 

 allow her to escape, decided to follow her into the 

 thicket. It was a most hazardous undertaking, 

 but Mabruki, very pluckily, made no demur ; 



