176 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
into the mimosa once, twice, and instantly, like a toy, 
the machinery was set in motion, and great snarling 
growls changing into stifled roars broke on the quiet 
air. This was a most business-like lion, and evidently 
was for putting up with none of our monkey tricks. 
The bushes parted, and quicker than I can set it down 
a lion charged out straight like a whirlwind, past one 
of our men who stood next to me. The beast would 
have gone on had not the hunter made the greatest 
possible mistake. He bolted, thereby drawing attention 
to himself. The lion turned on the man, catching 
him, it seemed to me, by the leg, and they fell in an 
inextricable heap. We dared not fire because of the 
danger, but not a moment was lost. 
All the four hunters rallied to the aid of their com- 
rade. One threw a spear, which might have done some 
good had it been pitched accurately. It fell wide. One 
smart little fellow actually ran up and whacked the lion 
a resounding slap with a rifle — poor rifle ! A most 
brave and familiar way of acting. It was effectual 
though. The lion turned from his purpose and made 
a bid for safety in the bushes again. I let fly my right 
barrel at him as he crashed in, but know I missed, for 
all I heard was metallic singing in my ears and no 
answering thud of a bullet striking flesh. I went 
towards the place where the cat vanished. The 
humane Cecily was attending to the injured man. 
The lion betrayed his exact location by low growls, 
and I did all I knew to induce him to charge out again. 
I shouted, the men shouted, we whistled, we fired. 
Then the outraged animal took to roaring, real re- 
