6o TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
eventually to share the spoil. They seem to have some 
way of communicating their whereabouts that is quite 
as effective as our telegraphic system. 
I felt it was quite time to quit my saddle, and be 
clear of the pony, so dismounted and prepared for 
action, taking my rifle and looking to it. It was only 
just in time for my peace of mind. In one tense 
second I realised I had seen two monstrous moving 
beasts, yellowish and majestic. They were very close, 
and moved at a slow pace from the bush ahead into a 
patch of still thicker cover to the left. I remember 
that though the great moment for which we had 
planned and longed and striven was really at hand, all 
my excitement left me, and there was nothing but 
a cold tingling sensation running abou tmy veins. 
Clarence in a moment showed the excellent stage - 
management for which he was famous, and I heard as 
in a dream the word of command that sent our 
hunters, the Baron included, dashing after our quarry 
shouting and yelling and waving spears. Again I 
caught a glimpse of the now hurrying beasts. How 
mighty they looked ! In form as unlike a prisoned 
lion as can well be imagined. They hardly seemed 
related to their cousins at the Zoo. The mane of the 
wild lion is very much shorter. No wild lion acquires 
that wealth of hair we admire so much. The strenuous 
life acts as hair cutter. And yet the wild beast is 
much the most beautiful in his virile strength and 
suggestion of enormous power. 
The lions being located, we crept on warily towards 
the bush, a citadel of khansa and mimosa scrub, a 
