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of distracted attention while receiving a weapon； the necessity of recollecting the nervous correlations after the transfer； very often mark just the difference between a sure instinctive snapshot and a lost opportunity。 It reasons that the man with the rifle in his hand reacts instinctively； in one motion； to get his weapon into play。 If the gunbearer has the gun； HE must first react to pass it up； the master must receive it properly； and THEN； and not until then； may go on from where the other man began。 As for physical labour in the tropics： if a grown man cannot without discomfort or evil effects carry an eight…pound rifle； he is too feeble to go out at all。 In a long Western experience I have learned never to be separated from my weapon； and I believe the continuance of this habit in Africa saved me a good number of chances。
At any rate； we all flung ourselves off our horses。 I； having my rifle in my hand； managed to throw a shot after the biggest lion as he vanished。 It was a snap at nothing； and missed。 Then in an opening on the edge a hundred yards away appeared one of the lionesses。 She was trotting slowly； and on her I had time to draw a hasty aim。 At the shot she bounded high in the air； fell； rolled over； and was up and into the thicket before I had much more than time to pump up another shell from the magazine。 Memba Sasa in his eagerness got in the way…the first and last time he ever made a mistake in the field。
By this time the others had got hold of their weapons。 We fronted the blank face of the thicket。
The wounded animal would stand a little waiting。 We made a wide circle to the other side of the stream。 There we quickly picked up the trail of the two uninjured beasts。 They had headed directly over the hill； where we speedily lost all trace of them on the flint…like surface of the ground。 We saw a big pack of baboons in the only likely direction for a lion to go。 Being thus thrown back on a choice of a hundred other unlikely directions； we gave up that slim chance and returned to the thicket。
This proved to be a very dense piece of cover。 Above the height of the waist the interlocking branches would absolutely prevent any progress； but by stooping low we could see dimly among the simpler main stems to a distance of perhaps fifteen or twenty feet。 This combination at once afforded the wounded lioness plenty of cover in which to hide； plenty of room in which to charge home； and placed us under the disadvantage of a crouched or crawling attitude with limited vision。 We talked the matter over very thoroughly。 There was only one way to get that lioness out； and that was to go after her。 The job of going after her needed some planning。 The lion is cunning and exceeding fierce。 A flank attack； once we were in the thicket； was as much to be expected as a frontal charge。
We advanced to the thicket's edge with many precautions。 To our relief we found she had left us a definite trail。 B。 and I kneeling took up positions on either side； our rifles ready。 F。 and Simba crawled by inches eight or ten feet inside the thicket。 Then； having executed this manoeuvre safely； B。 moved up to protect our rear while I； with Memba Sasa； slid down to join F。
》From this point we moved forward alternately。 I would crouch； all alert； my rifle ready； while F。 slipped by me and a few feet ahead。 Then he get organized for battle while I passed him。 Memba Sasa and Simba； game as badgers； their fine eyes gleaming with excitement； their faces shining； crept along at the rear。 B。 knelt outside the thicket； straining his eyes for the slightest movement either side of the line of our advance。 Often these wily animals will sneak back in a half circle to attack their pursuers from behind。 Two or three of the bolder porters crouched alongside B。； peering eagerly。 The rest had quite properly retired to the safe distance where the horses stood。
We progressed very； very slowly。 Every splash of light or mottled shadow； every clump of bush stems； every fallen log had to be examined； and then examined again。 And how we did strain our eyes in a vain attempt to penetrate the half lights； the duskinesses of the closed…in thicket not over fifteen feet away！ And then the movement forward of two feet would bring into our field of vision an entirely new set of tiny vistas and possible lurking places。
Speaking for myself； I was keyed up to a tremendous tension。 I stared until my eyes ached； every muscle and nerve was taut。 Everything depended on seeing the beast promptly； and firing quickly。 With the manifest advantage of being able to see us； she would spring to battle fully prepared。 A yellow flash and a quick shot seemed about to size up that situation。 Every few moments； I remember； I surreptitiously held out my hand to see if the constantly growing excitement and the long…continued strain had affected its steadiness。
The combination of heat and nervous strain was very exhausting。 The sweat poured from me； and as F。 passed me I saw the great drops standing out on his face。 My tongue got dry； my breath came laboriously。 Finally I began to wonder whether physically I should be able to hold out。 We had been crawling； it seemed； for hours。 I dared not look back； but we must have come a good quarter mile。 Finally F。 stopped。
〃I'm all in for water；〃 he gasped in a whisper。
Somehow that confession made me feel a lot better。 I had thought that I was the only one。 Cautiously we settled back on our heels。 Memba Sasa and Simba wiped the sweat from their faces。 It seemed that they too had found the work severe。 That cheered me up still more。
Simba grinned at us； and； worming his way backward with the sinuousity of a snake； he disappeared in the direction from which we had come。 F。 cursed after him in a whisper both for departing and for taking the risk。 But in a moment he had returned carrying two canteens of blessed water。 We took a drink most gratefully。
I glanced at my watch。 It was just under two hours since I had fired my shot。 I looked back。 My supposed quarter mile had shrunk to not over fifty feet！
After resting a few moments longer； we again took up our systematic advance。 We made perhaps another fifty feet。 We were ascending a very gentle slope。 F。 was for the moment ahead。 Right before us the lion growled； a deep rumbling like the end of a great thunder roll； fathoms and fathoms deep； with the inner subterranean vibrations of a heavy train of cars passing a man inside a sealed building。 At the same moment over F。's shoulder I saw a huge yellow head rise up； the round eyes flashing anger； the small black…tipped ears laid back； the great fangs snarling。 The beast was not over twelve feet distant。 F。 immediately fired。 His shot； hitting an intervening twig； went wild。 With the utmost coolness he immediately pulled the other trigger of his double barrel。 The cartridge snapped。
〃If you will kindly stoop down…〃 said I； in what I now remember to be rather an exaggeratedly polite tone。 As F。's head disappeared； I placed the little gold bead of my 405 Winchester where I thought it would do the most good； and pulled trigger。 She rolled over dead。
The whole affair had begun and finished with unbelievable swiftness。 From the growl to the fatal shot I don't suppose four seconds elapsed； for our various actions had followed one another with the speed of the instinctive。 The lioness had growled at our approach； had raised her head to charge； and had received her deathblow before she had released her muscles in the spring。 There had been no time to get frightened。
We sat back for a second。 A brown hand reached over my shoulder。
〃Mizouri…mizouri sana！〃 cried Memba Sasa joyously。 I shook the hand。
〃Good business！〃 said F。 〃Congratulate you on your first lion。〃
We then remembered B。； and shouted to him that all was over。 He and the other men wriggled in to where we were lying。 He made this distance in about fifteen seconds。 It had taken us nearly an hour。
We had the lioness dragged out into the open。 She was not an especially large beast； as compared to most of the others I killed later； but at that time she looked to me about as big as they made them。 As a matter of fact she was quite big enough； for she stood three feet two inches at the shoulder…measure that against the wall…and was seven feet and six inches in length。 My first bullet had hit her leg； and the last had reached her heart。
Every one shook me by the hand。 The gunbearers squatted about the carcass； skilfully removing the skin to an undertone of curious crooning that every few moments broke out into one or two bars of a chant。 As the body was uncovered； the men crouched about to cut off little pieces of fat。 These they rubbed on their foreheads and over their chests； to make them brave； they said； and cunning； like the lion。
We remounted and took up our interrupted journey to camp。 It was a little after two； and the heat was at its worst。 We rode rather sleepily； for the reaction from the high tension of excitement had set in。 Behind us marched the three gunbearers； all abreast； very military and proud。 Then came the porters in single file； the one carrying the folded lion skin leading the way； those bearing the waterbuck trophy and meat bringing up the rear