182 
THROUGH SOMA LILA HD AND ABYSSINIA chap. 
against the white background three large animals walk out from 
the bushes into the open near the pool ; one glance told us that 
they were full-grown lionesses. 
They walked quietly across till they reached the place 
where the rhinoceros had been standing when first hit ; and 
then stood together snuffing at the blood, which we found 
next day in quantities on the rocks. I could count their twelve 
short and stout legs showing in silhouette against the white 
floor of the river-bed, as they stood motionless, heads bent over 
the fresh blood, appearing to consult together. I reserved my 
fire, as I knew they had come to drink, and would give me 
a better chance, nearer to my shelter, later on. The lionesses 
then walked slowly across the river-bed in single file, up a 
path which ascended the opposite bank, and then disappeared. 
But they had not really gone, for from time to time during the 
next half-hour I could see their round heads raised in silhouette 
against the sky-line, above the black outline of the bank ; they 
too were watching the pool for game ! 
I must have dozed off to sleep again, for the moon had 
swung over a good deal towards the western horizon, when 
I noticed Geli squatting in a listening attitude, and heard a 
steady lapping as of an animal drinking. Geli whispered, 
“ Now, be ready, Sahib ! ” and slowly raising my head above 
my screen, pushing the muzzle of my Express forward at the 
same time, I saw over the barrels the body of a lioness extended, 
hind- quarters flattened against the rock, shoulders high and 
head down towards me, lapping the water on the farther side 
of the pool. I did not wait long, but glancing between her 
upraised shoulders and lowering the muzzle till the white paper 
on the rib between the barrels had disappeared, I pulled the 
trigger. My bower was full of smoke, and I ducked under the 
screen as the report of the rifle was instantly followed by a 
roar and a splash, and jumping to our feet we just saw the 
lioness, after having sprung into the centre of the pool to get 
at us, in the act of raising her dripping body out of the 
water. No doubt the cold douche hadfdamped her enthusiasm, 
and she had turned back. Before I could take a sight down 
the barrels she rushed off across the river-bed, pulling up in 
the sombre belt of bush on the farther side to roll about and 
growl. There was nothing more to be done, and though my 
Somalis hinted that she might be hunted by moonlight, I, 
mindful of our Gebili leopard, preferred to wait till morning 
