60 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



eventually to share the spoil. They seem to have some 

 way of communicating their whereabouts that is quite 

 as effective as our telegraphic system. 



I felt it was quite time to quit my saddle, and be 

 clear of the pony, so dismounted and prepared for 

 action, taking my rifle and looking to it. It was only 

 just in time for my peace of mind. In one tense 

 second I realised I had seen two monstrous moving 

 beasts, yellowish and majestic. They were very close, 

 and moved at a slow pace from the bush ahead into a 

 patch of still thicker cover to the left. I remember 

 that though the great moment for which we had 

 planned and longed and striven was really at hand, all 

 my excitement left me, and there was nothing but a 

 cold tingling sensation running about my veins. 

 Clarence in a moment showed the excellent stage- 

 management for which he was famous, and I heard as 

 in a dream the word of command that sent our 

 hunters, the Baron included, dashing after our quarry 

 shouting and yelling and waving spears. Again I' 

 caught a glimpse of the now hurrying beasts. How 

 mighty they looked! In form as unlike a prisoned 

 lion as can well be imagined. They hardly seemed 

 related to their cousins at the Zoo. The mane of the 

 wild lion is very much shorter. No wild lion acquires 

 that wealth of hair we admire so much. The strenuous 

 life acts as hair-cutter. And yet the wild beast is 

 much the most beautiful in his virile strength and 

 suggestion of enormous power. 



The lions being located, we crept on warily towards 

 the bush, a citadel of khansa and mimosa scrub, a 



