THOUSANDS OF ZEBRAS AND ANTELOPES 



11 



' Bedue brought back the news that there was no water in the 



district he had explored, but that there were plenty of wild 



animals, so the next morning I led my men along a low spur of 



the Leikipia plateau in an easterly direction towards Lake 



Baringo, and camped in a beautiful meadow on the banks of 



the dried-up bed of the Mogodeni stream, sending for water to 



Lake Baringo, which was now not one hour's march off. On 



the shores of the lake roamed thousands of zebras and Beisa 



antelopes, but as there was not a scrap of cover anywhere, it 



w^as hopeless to attempt to get near enough for a shot. I 



therefore now bore to the east wdiere there were a few clumps 



of bush and tall grass. The first game I brought down w^as a 



rhinoceros, which I shot in the shoulder , ^ 



and then, as it swerved round, in the L'\ '^,^\ 



spine. We came next to a thicket ^ ^} 



where we suri^rised two kudu ante- < , , - . , » 



lopes, but unfortunately they got off. \- 



These animals are comparatively rare, 



so I was after them directly through 



thick and thin, only pausino- when I horns of the 



aloelaphus kaama. 



came suddenly to a little clearing where 



a pleasant surprise awaited me. One lion and two lionesses 

 were just opposite to me, one of the latter lying down, the 

 other two sitting on their haunches. They gazed at me in 

 motionless astonishment long enough for me to fire. I did so, 

 wounding one of the lionesses. There was a terrible roar, and 

 when the smoke cleared away they were all gone. Cautiously 

 we followed the blood-spoor, the high grass and bush making 

 it difficult and dangerous. I had just w^arned my people to 

 be careful when we came upon the wounded lioness crouching 

 ready for a spring. I fired at her, hitting her in the head, she 

 recoiled, and then went slowly off. Another shot in the flesh 

 brought her down, but she still tore at the ground with her 



