178 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



should get that. It was foolish of me to doubt my 

 shikari's common sense. I had never known him fail, 

 and he knew I was carefully stalking. I heard their 

 voices at intervals in the distance, buzzing, and it all 

 seemed some chimera of my brain. Myself in that hot 

 jungle tangle, and but twenty yards away a lion of 

 mettle and business-like habits ! I was on my knees in 

 half-raised position, and had he turned even in a half 

 circle, he must, I verily believe, have seen me, and 

 sorted me out as something untoward. 



The air was stifling, and oh ! how heavily I weighed 

 on my knees ! My fighting weight seemed enormous 

 as I supported it. It was eight stone really and seemed 

 like eighteen, but of course it was because, in my ex- 

 citement, Antaeus-like, I pressed down heavily to 

 something solid until I drew my strength from earth, 

 and thus took heart of grace. I carefully got up my 

 rifle. It seemed a long business. Did I really make 

 no noise ? Strange crackling rustlings sounded in my 

 ears, as at each growl I seized the opportunity, and in 

 the semi-obscurity of the reverberations placed myself 

 better. The lion came more into focus. I saw his side 

 where it sank in, then — farther. A heart-shaking 

 second. My bullet was too low. The vast body 

 lashed round and round. I seemed to see what my 

 fate would be in another instant. My breath was 

 coming in great sobs, and I wondered whether the 

 lion was choking or I. All this was in the fraction of 

 a moment. Then came my opportunity. His chest 

 presented itself fair and square like a target. I pressed 

 my second trigger, and then threw myself backwards 



