176 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



into the mimosa once, twice, and instantly, like a toy, 

 the machinery was set in motion, and great snarling 

 growls breaking into stifled roars broke on the quiet 

 air. This was a most business-like lion, and evidently 

 was for putting up with none of our monkey tricks. 

 The bushes parted, and quicker than I can set it down 

 a lion charged out straight, like a whirlwind, past one 

 of our men who stood next to me. The beast would 

 have gone on had not the hunter made the greatest 

 possible mistake. He bolted, thereby drawing attention 

 to himself. The lion turned on the man, catching 

 him, it seemed to me, by the leg, and they fell in an 

 inextricable heap. We dared not fire because of the 

 danger, but not a moment was lost. 



All the four hunters rallied to the aid of their com- 

 rade. One threw a spear, which might have done some 

 good had it been pitched accurately. It fell wide. One 

 smart little fellow actually ran up and whacked the lion 

 a resounding slap with a rifle — poor rifle ! A most 

 brave and familiar way of acting. It was effectual 

 though. The lion turned from his purpose and made 

 a bid for safety in the bushes again. I let fly my right 

 barrel at him as he crashed in, but know I missed, for 

 all I heard was metallic singing in my ears and no 

 answering thud of a bullet striking flesh. I went 

 towards the place where the cat vanished. The humane 

 Cecily was attending to the injured man. 



The lion betrayed his exact location by low growls, 

 and I did all I knew to induce him to charge out again. 

 I shouted, the men shouted, we whistled, we fired. 

 Then the enraged animal took to roaring, real resound- 



