178 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
should get that. It was foolish of me to doubt my 
shikari’s common sense. I had never known him fail, 
and he knew I was carefully stalking. I heard their 
voices at intervals in the distance, buzzing, and it all 
seemed some chimera of my brain. Myself in that hot 
jungle tangle, and but twenty yards away a lion of 
mettle and business-like habits ! I was on my knees 
in half -raised position, and had he turned even in a 
half-circle, he must, I verily believe, have seen me, 
and sorted me out as something untoward. 
The air was stifling, and oh ! how heavily I weighed 
on my knees ! My fighting weight seemed enormous 
as I supported it. It was eight stone really and seemed 
like eighteen, but of course it was because, in my ex- 
citement, Antaeus-like, I pressed down heavily to 
something solid until I drew my strength from earth, 
and thus took heart of grace. I carefully got up my 
rifle. It seemed a long business. Did I really make 
no noise ? Strange crackling rustlings sounded in my 
ears, as at each growl I seized the opportunity, and in 
the semi-obscurity of the reverberations placed myself 
better. The lion came more into focus. I saw his side 
where it sank in, then— farther. A heart-shaking 
second. My bullet was too low. The vast body 
lashed round and round. I seemed to see what my 
fate would be in another instant. My breath was 
coming in great sobs, and I wondered whether the 
lion was choking or I. All this was in the fraction of 
a moment. Then came my opportunity. His chest 
presented itself fair and square like a target. I pressed 
my second trigger, and then threw myself backwards 
