SECOND EXPEDITION TO EAST AFRICA 225 



the 350, using the telescope-sight. It was a 

 difficult shot, as I could not sit down, and had to 

 fire from a standing position, and I missed. The 

 lion then moved off at a fast swinging walk, and 

 was joined by the two lionesses. I had two shots 

 at them, as they moved off, with the rifle sighted 

 for 300 yards, but without success ; and then, 

 accompanied by the gun-bearers, I started in 

 pursuit. The lions travelled faster than I was 

 able to do, but the larger of the two lionesses 

 stopped at intervals and looked round, as if she 

 was disposed to fight it out, and this encouraged 

 me to persevere. When we had pursued them for 

 a considerable distance, Saasita divined that the 

 lions were making for a conical hill in the middle 

 of the plain ; and, when they disappeared over 

 the brow of the next slope, we made straight for 

 the hill and thereby gained a good deal of ground. 

 As I ascended the slope, I caught a glimpse of an 

 animal disappearing round the corner of the hill, 

 and the larger of the two lionesses stood for some 

 seconds on the side of the hill, offering me a good 

 shot at about 300 yards' distance. Thinking that 

 the rifle was still sighted for 300 yards, I sat down 

 and had two shots at her with the '350 before she 

 disappeared round the hill ; but the bullets struck 

 very short, and I found, upon examination, that 

 the rifle was sighted for 100 yards only. Either 

 the sight had slipped back during the pursuit, or I 

 had altered it myself and had forgotten the fact 

 in my excitement. 



I halted for a minute or two to reload the 350 

 and recover my wind, as we had walked very fast, 

 and then we walked round the corner of the hill 



15 



