Three Lions before Breakfast 



I ever saw them, so quickly have they vanished ; 

 but there lie the 7 scanty remains of an oryx, 

 and running round a bush I see a lion pass at a 

 dignified walk between two bushes about 100 

 yards off no time for a shot. Spots meanwhile 

 has whistled, and in another second up dash the 

 three attendant horsemen, and without drawing 

 rein they turn in obedience to a wave from my 

 spendid little hunter, and are off shouting and 

 flourishing their spears after the lions. We follow 

 at best pace along the tracks, nor had we long to 

 wait before seeing one of our men galloping to 

 and fro (this to get a flying start in the event 

 of a charge) and pointing with his spear at 

 a bush some 200 yards from him. The lions, 

 lazy after their feed, had not gone far before 

 coming to bay, though only one had been marked 

 down as yet. I could just make her out lying 

 crouched, as if for a spring, in the thicket with 

 her head lowered between her fore paws, and 

 every now and then raising it to give vent to 

 ugly snarling roars as she saw me approaching. 

 With the eyes of my Somalis upon me I had to 

 pretend to be valiant, whatever my feelings might 

 be, so I walked straight up to within thirty yards 

 of her, finger on trigger and momentarily expect- 

 ing a charge, sat down and shot her dead through 

 the neck. A very tame ending, but, considering 

 possibilities, quite exciting enough at the moment. 



123 



