A LION HUNT 53 



the tetse-fly was very bad about here, I made an attempt to 

 send my boy back with my horse with instructions to leave 

 him in the charge of the old chief at Mutumbiu. 



That afternoon, on the call of " Hons ! " I had drawn 

 rein on my horse suddenly and it was a most strange sight 

 to see the poor beast, on becoming aware of the nearness 

 of danger, instantly grow rigid and tremble in every limb. 

 Nor whip nor spur could move him and I had to get off and, 

 with Moussa's help, almost lift him along some yards before 

 he would start going again. And now again, when the horse 

 reached the same spot on the road where he had first encoun- 

 tered the lions, nothing would induce him to pass it, and, 

 turning suddenly, he bolted straight back into camp. So 

 after that he had to take his chances with the flies, except 

 for the protection of a fire, which I caused to be lit near him 

 in the daytime. I had several lamps with me which we lit 

 and hung round camp at night as a warning of danger to 

 the lions, and the men made a large fire round which they 

 slept. At intervals through the night I was awakened by 

 the short, deep cry of the lion — a cry that has a most strange 

 and weird effect upon the sleeper within range of its sound. 

 No matter at what distance it is uttered, or how tired, or 

 how secure from attack the sleeper may feel, its deep vibra- 

 tions will penetrate to the very centre of the senses and he 

 will start up on the instant wide awake and all aware of the 

 nature of the call. Though I was feeling so ill and worn out 

 with the fever which had hold of me that I would have said 

 that I could lie down in a menagerie so long as I was per- 

 mitted to sleep, yet this night, every time the lions uttered 

 their unearthly cry, I was startled wide awake, and every 



