A MANELESS LION 
71 
CH. Ill] 
wounded, and we finished them off; even if unwounded, 
they were too big to take alive. 
This was a great disappointment, and as it was well 
on in the afternoon, and we had beaten the country 
most apt to harbour our game, it seemed unlikely that 
we would have another chance. Percival was on foot 
and a long way from his house, so he started for it; and 
the rest of us also began to jog homeward. But Sir 
Alfred, although he said nothing, intended to have 
another try. After going a mile or two, he started off 
to the left at a brisk canter; and we, the other riders, 
followed, leaving behind our gun-bearers, saises, and 
porters. A couple of miles away was another donga, 
another shallow watercourse, with occasional big brush 
patches along the winding bed, and toward this we 
cantered. Almost as soon as we reached it our leader 
found the spoor of two big lions ; and with every sense 
acock, we dismounted and approached the first patch 
of tall bushes. We shouted and threw in stones, but 
nothing came out; and another small patch showed 
the same result. Then we mounted our horses again, 
and rode toward another patch a quarter of a mile off. 
I was mounted on Tranquillity, the stout and quiet 
sorrel. 
This patch of tall, thick brush stood on the hither 
bank—that is, on our side of the watercourse. We 
rode up to it and shouted loudly. The response was 
immediate in the shape of loud gruntings and crash- 
ings through the thick brush. We were off our horses 
in an instant, I throwing the reins over the head of 
mine; and without delay the good old fellow began 
placidly grazing, quite unmoved by the ominous sounds 
immediately in front. 
1 sprang to one side, and for a second or two we 
