320 
IN AFRICA 
and fifty yards the largest of the two males, a 
great, black-maned lion, stopped and turned 
toward us. His two companions continued moving 
away toward the ravine. 
Thinking it a good moment to strike, we leaped 
from the carriage and knelt to fire. Stephenson 
shot at the big black-mane and I at the male that 
was retreating. Both shots missed. The black- 
At Two Hundred and Fifty Yards 
mane resumed his retreat and we got in a couple 
more ineffectual shots before the three lions dis¬ 
appeared over the brow of the ravine. 
Once more in the carriage and another wild 
gallop as far as the vehicle would go. For a few 
moments we lost sight of the lions, but presently 
we saw them climbing up the opposite slope, four 
hundred yards away. It was a long distance to 
shoot, but we hoped to bring them to bay at least by 
wounding them into a fighting mood. The large 
