A LION HUNT 59 



beasts. Presently we heard the Hon returning on his path, 

 so stood still and waited. In a few minutes he came into 

 sight about fifty yards on the left, trotting briskly along. I 

 took my first shot at him and missed. My failure annoyed 

 me very much, and I tried to find an excuse in the very weak 

 and shaky state I was in at the time. Jose then fired, hitting 

 the animal in the shoulder but failing to bring him down. 

 The shot, however, made him turn off into the long grass and 

 we traced his tracks with our gaze by the shaking of the grass 

 tops for about forty yards. We then followed in the direction 

 as quickly as possible, but the going was rendered difficult 

 and we could hardly keep our feet for the unevenness of the 

 ground, which had been broken up into hard hillocks and 

 deep holes by the tracks of elephants when the rains had 

 made the place a swamp. 



Soon we realised we were upon our quarry when close 

 ahead we heard a low angry growl and a great commotion 

 in the grass as of a heavy animal struggling to get upon his 

 feet. Then suddenly we saw his tail stand up erect above 

 the grass and the moment after his great head and shoulders 

 appeared. On he came, growling and struggling and pushing 

 himself along by great strokes of his hind legs, for the poor 

 beast was unable to spring, owing to the wound in his shoulder. 

 At ten yards distance he paused, glaring, and made one 

 great effort to spring. I fired and hit him in the forehead 

 and he fell dead instantly. There was now great excitement 

 among the " boys " and, after making quite sure that the lion 

 was dead, they pressed round and feasted their eyes on the 

 carcase. Then one ran off to be first with the good news in 

 camp, while others went into the bush to cut stout sticks 



