72 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER ch. 
if he were my shadow. After making our way for 
about forty yards through the thicket, we were 
brought to a standstill by an ominous growl, and, 
shortly afterwards, heard the long jungle grass 
rustling as the lion slunk away on our approach. 
Cautiously following up the spoor, we came to the 
spot where he had stopped to devour his victim, the 
grass in the immediate neighbourhood being all 
trampled down and covered with blood, though, 
determined not to be cheated of his horrible meal, 
the brute had dragged the body away with him. 
By this time, not a sound was to be heard, and, 
knowing that the animal could not be far off, I 
advanced with utmost care, ready, should I get a 
chance, instantly to place a bullet in him. A little 
further on, we came across the gruesome sight of 
the woman’s half-eaten body and could see that 
death must have been almost instantaneous, for 
the animal had bitten her right through the back of 
the neck. Leaving the remains where they were, 
we continued our pursuit, moving a few yards at a 
time, and expecting at any moment to come upon 
the beast. Suddenly, our progress was arrested by 
a fierce growl a few yards ahead of us, and, next 
instant, I caught a fleeting glimpse of the animal 
slinking away, but it was much too brief to risk a 
shot. Before advancing further, I told Simba to 
climb a tree some yards to our right and spy out the 
