74 
LION-HUNTING 
[CH. Ill 
saddle, as his sons, for instance, can; and I had already 
made up my mind that in the event of the lion’s 
charging it would be wise for me to trust to straight 
powder rather than to try to scramble into the saddle 
and get under way in time. The arrival of my two 
companions settled matters. I was not sure of the 
speed of Lady Pease’s horse ; and Simba was on foot, 
and it was, of course, out of the question for me to leave 
him. So I said, 44 Good, Simba! now we’ll see this 
thing through,” and gentle-mannered Simba smiled a 
shy appreciation of my tone, though he could not 
understand the words. I was still unable to see the 
lion when I knelt, but he was now standing up, look¬ 
ing first at one group of horses and then at the other, 
his tail lashing to and fro, his head held low, and his 
lips dropped over his mouth in peculiar fashion, while 
his harsh and savage growling rolled thunderously over 
the plain. Seeing Simba and me on foot, he turned 
toward us, his tail lashing quicker and quicker. Rest¬ 
ing my elbow on Simba’s bent shoulder, I took steady 
aim and pressed the trigger. The bullet went in 
between the neck and shoulder, and the lion fell over 
on his side, one fore-leg in the air. He recovered in a 
moment and stood up, evidently very sick, and once 
more faced me, growling hoarsely. I think he was on 
the eve of charging. I fired again at once, and this 
bullet broke his back just behind the shoulders ; and 
with the next I killed him outright, after we had 
gathered round him. 
These were two good-sized maneless lions; and very 
proud of them I was. I think Sir Alfred was at least 
as proud, especially because we had performed the feat 
alone, without any professional hunters being present. 
44 We were all amateurs, only gentleman riders up,” 
