IQ2 
EAST AFRICA AND ITS BIG GAME. 
the carcass of the lost buffalo he had wounded some 
days before, and breaking its shoulder with the first 
shot, cautiously followed it into the thickest part of 
a belt of river-side bush, where it had sought refuge. 
Any farther advance being injudicious and hardly 
practicable, he made one of his gun-bearers climb a 
tree to reconnoitre, and before many minutes the 
watcher made signals that the lion was quite close. 
As from his present position C- could discern 
nothing amidst the jungle undergrowth, he decided 
to improve the situation by “shinning” up the nearest 
tree; and no sooner had he reached a comfortable 
bough than he looked down upon his quarry crouch¬ 
ing within fifteen paces of the spot he had just quitted, 
and waving his tail in that ominous manner which 
always precedes a determined charge. After two hours’ 
waiting and poking about, he got in a successful shot as 
the beast crossed an open space, and was soon after¬ 
wards engaged in measuring a skin which proved to 
be ten feet eleven inches from the tip of the nose to 
the tip of the tail. C-was very lucky in the way of 
seeing lions, as he viewed one or more during each of 
the next four days; but unfortunately he only obtained 
shots at two, with the result of wounding one which 
eventually got away. This was a great pity, as it was 
an uncommonly fine specimen, with a splendid mane. 
We shot a few alligators, on the river-banks, from 
twelve to fourteen feet in length, but most managed to 
scramble or roll into deep water, however hard hit, 
unless the spine were divided. B-had good luck 
