THE WILD FAUNA OF THE KMrlRE. 



43 



my luck was out, and my best horse died of horse 

 sickness on the way up, delaying me over two 

 weeks while waiting for another to be sent up. It 

 being thus necessary to return, I headed for the 

 Sabi river, where I expceted to find the warden. 

 On August 26, I had to do rather a long march on 

 account of scarcity of water, consequently sundown 

 found me riding along the native bank some three 

 miles short of my destination Mctzi Metz, accom- 

 panied by a large rough-haired dog (of no very 

 special breed, but of tried courage) and carrying my 

 ' 400 express. My four natives and three donkeys 

 Were a few miles behind me. 



It was already pretty dark, twilight being a 

 matter of minutes in these latitudes, and the path 

 which I followed led along the banks of a small 

 dry river bed. I had reached a place where a patch 

 °f long grass grew beside the path, when my dog 

 " Bull " ran forward barking, and I caught sight of 

 some indistinct forms, which from their general 

 appearance, I took to be reedbucks ; the very last 

 thing I was thinking of was lions, having been 

 fruitlessly tramping the country in hopes of secur- 

 ing one for some time. I therefore whistled to the 

 dog and the next moment was conscious of a lion 

 close to me on the off side and preparing to spring. 

 I had no time to lift my rifle, but simply snatched 

 my horse round to the near side, and drove the 

 s purs in : he gave a bound which no doubt caused 

 the lion to partially miss his spring, as his claws 

 dipped on the horse's quarters, and, though several 

 "gly wounds were inflicted, he lost his hold. The 



