or thin places。 We sat down； manned our trusty prism glasses； and gave ourselves to the pleasing occupation of looking the country over inch by inch。
This is great fun。 It is a game a good deal like puzzle pictures。 Re…examination generally develops new and unexpected beasts。 We repeated to each other aloud the results of our scrutiny； always without removing the glasses from our eyes。
〃Oryx； one；〃 said F。； 〃oryx； two。〃
〃Giraffe；〃 reported B。； 〃and a herd of impalla。〃
I saw another giraffe； and another oryx； then two rhinoceroses。
The three bearers squatted on their heels behind us； their fierce eyes staring straight ahead； seeing with the naked eye what we were finding with six…power glasses。
We turned to descend the hill。 In the very centre of the deep shade of a clump of trees； I saw the gleam of a waterbuck's horns。 While I was telling of this； the beast stepped from his concealment； trotted a short distance upstream and turned to climb a little ridge parallel to that by which we were descending。 About halfway up he stopped； staring in our direction； his head erect； the slight ruff under his neck standing forward。 He was a good four hundred yards away。 B。； who wanted him； decided the shot too chancy。 He and F。 slipped backward until they had gained the cover of the little ridge； then hastened down the bed of the ravine。 Their purpose was to follow the course already taken by the waterbuck until they should have sneaked within better range。 In the meantime I and the gunbearers sat down in full view of the buck。 This was to keep his attention distracted。
We sat there a long time。 The buck never moved but continued to stare at what evidently puzzled him。 Time passes very slowly in such circumstances； and it seemed incredible that the beast should continue much longer to hold his fixed attitude。 Nevertheless B。 and F。 were working hard。 We caught glimpses of them occasionally slipping from bush to bush。 Finally B。 knelt and levelled his rifle。 At once I turned my glasses on the buck。 Before the sound of the rifle had reached me； I saw him start convulsively； then make off at the tearing run that indicates a heart hit。 A moment later the crack of the rifle and the dull plunk of the hitting bullet struck my ear。
We tracked him fifty yards to where he lay dead。 He was a fine trophy； and we at once set the boys to preparing it and taking the meat。 In the meantime we sauntered down to look at the stream。 It was a small rapid affair； but in heavy papyrus； with sparse trees； and occasional thickets； and dry hard banks。 The papyrus should make a good lurking place for almost anything； but the few points of access to the water failed to show many interesting tracks。 Nevertheless we decided to explore a short distance。
For an hour we walked among high thornbushes； over baking hot earth。 We saw two or three dik…dik and one of the giraffes。 At that time it had become very hot； and the sun was bearing down on us as with the weight of a heavy hand。 The air had the scorching； blasting quality of an opened furnace door。 Our mouths were getting dry and sticky in that peculiar stage of thirst on which no luke…warm canteen water in necessarily limited quantity has any effect。 So we turned back； picked up the men with the waterbuck； and plodded on down the little stream； or； rather； on the red…hot dry valley bottom outside the stream's course； to where the syces were waiting with our horses。 We mounted with great thankfulness。 It was now eleven o'clock； and we considered our day as finished。
The best way for a distance seemed to follow the course of the tributary stream to its point of junction with our river。 We rode along； rather relaxed in the suffocating heat。 F。 was nearest the stream。 At one point it freed itself of trees and brush and ran clear； save for low papyrus； ten feet down below a steep eroded bank。 F。 looked over and uttered a startled exclamation。 I spurred my horse forward to see。
Below us； about fifteen yards away； was the carcass of a waterbuck half hidden in the foot…high grass。 A lion and two lionesses stood upon it； staring up at us with great yellow eyes。 That picture is a very vivid one in my memory； for those were the first wild lions I had ever seen。 My most lively impression was of their unexpected size。 They seemed to bulk fully a third larger than my expectation。
The magnificent beasts stood only long enough to see clearly what had disturbed them； then turned； and in two bounds had gained the shelter of the thicket。
Now the habit in Africa is to let your gunbearers carry all your guns。 You yourself stride along hand free。 It is an English idea； and is pretty generally adopted out there by every one； of whatever nationality。 They will explain it to you by saying that in such a climate a man should do only necessary physical work； and that a good gunbearer will get a weapon into your hand so quickly and in so convenient a position that you will lose no time。 I acknowledge the gunbearers are sometimes very skilful at this； but I do deny that there is no loss of time。 The instant 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； fo