TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 163 
of jungle. The men volunteered to beat, but I was 
set against this ; so we wandered about on the edge of 
this natural zareba awaiting developments, my heart in 
my mouth the whole time. Intrepid Cecily was all for 
penetrating the thorn, and at last came on a place she 
could at least peer into. There was not a sound nor 
rustle, nor crackle of twig. Then Clarence, in evil 
minute, suggested firing the place, and under Cecily’s 
directions at once set about the business with his fire 
stick. I had often tried to acquire the knack of sum- 
moning the spirit of flame thus, but had long since 
given it up as an accomplishment impossible for me 
to learn. 
The thorn was damp and took some time to ignite, 
but in half an hour the blaze got a fair start and simply 
ate up all before it. We had to back farther and 
farther away each moment. Volumes of smoke rolled 
away to the northward, and the heat grew insufferable. 
It had been about as much as we could stand before we 
began operations. The flames roared away, licking up 
every trace of vegetation. I was so surprised no small 
affrighted animals broke cover, but this was explained 
to my wondering mind a moment later, when, to my 
amazement, a tawny lioness sprang from the burning 
bush and, terror-stricken, passed close to me — so close 
almost I could have touched her. I ran straight to my 
waiting pony held by my syce at some distance, 
mounted, and calling to a couple of men to follow, 
galloped on the track of the lioness. Occasionally I 
caught glimpses of her as she cantered between the 
low-lying bushes. Then she disappeared suddenly and 
