Untrodden Paths 
33 
and then to fire the dry steppe grass. We hoped in this way, and 
by means of the dense clouds of smoke, to drive the lions from 
their lurking place. 
Then we three Europeans took up our posts, mine being at the 
southern end of the thicket near the upper end of the gorge. The 
zoologist and Wintgens stationed themselves lower down. Sit¬ 
ting on my hunting stool, an Askari ready with a reserve rifle 
behind me, I waited for events, which I hardly believed would 
happen. Suddenly, however, I noticed a commotion along the 
line of bearers, and with the aid of my glasses I perceived that 
the Askari were shouting and endeavouring to head the wings of 
the bearer line. I gripped the butt end of my rifle tighter, and, 
to my indescribable amazement, I observed first one maned head, 
then a second, and later three more heads of lions emerging from 
the tall grass close below my position. Unfortunately the height 
of the grass allowed me to see hardly anything of the bodies of 
the animals, so that I could scarcely count on the success of any 
shot. But remembering from experience, particularly applicable 
in Africa, that not to shoot means failure, I let go at the head of 
the first one and—missed ; also a second and a third time. Then 
I took refuge in the only right rule for lion shooting: shoot and 
run as long as you have any breath, for any correct and methodical 
stalking of these creatures is out of the question. One usually 
succeeds without cover and with good wind in drawing near to a 
trotting lion, as he does not keep a very good look out when on 
the move. I calculated upon this. With rifle in hand I beat a 
way for myself through the breast-high grass as rapidly as I 
could down into the gorge, shaking off the Askari, who in his 
fear tried to hold me back. Simana bana^ simba wengi ” (“ Stay 
here, master; there’s a crowd of lions ”), he kept repeating. But 
I would not be diverted from my purpose, for I could only 
reckon upon success if I crept somewhere close up. 
Just as I reached the bottom of the valley the animals wheeled 
and fled up the opposite slope about three hundred metres dis¬ 
tant from my position. I sighted high and fired. The physical 
and mental excitement, however, was too great. Another miss! 
F 
