The broad ax., 1898-08-06

| Deen WlInln olx teet when his groWi-
ings ceased and all became quiet again.
A second light responded to the strik-
er. and lit mp the kraal and its sur
roundingA The enemy had decamped
and taken covert In the scrub beyond.
We then retraced our steps, and smoked
pipe in order to give his majesty
tine to think over matters and return
to his meat.
In about half an hours time We re-
turned to the attack. As we neared the
kraal another low growl greeted Us. I
struck q light. and as I did so the Ma
snikoiumbWe boy told me he saw the
Hon standing near an ant-heap close
by the kraal. I looked. and saw two
dark ooJects-one on either side OF the
ant-heap. To the left, what took for
a oush-as 1t seemed much too large
Tor lion-was all I could see; to the
right what might easily be a crouch
ing lion attracted my notice. fire. at
the latter-the light went out, ana ell
was quiet. Another light revealed the
smaller object still there. and Il "a so
still for all / know-but the larger one
mad disappeared. had fred at the
wrong one!
Inc next attempt only gave Us a
glimpse as his body glIded to covert
from behind the kraal. He evidently
didn't mean to give US another chance
tnat night so we decided to retire to
rest-out not to sleep-tnd make a fur
tner attempt at grey dawn, In the hope
OF getting a shot before he had reached
the impenetrable bush behind the sta
tion' where 1t would be impossible to
get at him.
Yet once more Mr.. Baldwin called me
from the world OF sleep as he opened
the door OF the hut This time, how
ever. he said nothing, but looked a
great deal. / uttered one short but
expressive syllable as I realized that
the sun was already high In the hsav-
ems. and the chance Of coming I'D With
the lion very remote indeed. The ami
NAL. Mr.. Baldwin told me. had actually
eaSen his way through stakes as taick
as mans arm In order to gain en-
trance to the kraal. He had, Of coarse,
dragged away the carcass, and riust
ere this have reached his lair. We
found, as the boys had reported to Mr..
Baldwin, that a hole had been eaten
through the palisade. and at the far
side a larger opening through which
the surviving terrified animals had
made their escape. A groove in the
sandy soil showed the line along watch
the carcass had been dragged. Accom-
panied by three boys, we followed the
spoor until, after traversing some Ave
hundred yards only, we came upon the
remains Of the OK lying at the entrance
OF tunnel through dense thorn lush.
No lion was TO be seen, though there
was but little doubt that the marsader
was within a few yards OF his prey. A
groTl soon disclosed his whereabouts,
and as II came from behind a wAil OF
bush only few PAGES in front, I 6rsd
at where I calculated the animal stood,
fearing that he would not venture into
the open with so much covert at his
disposal. There being no Response or
sound OF movement, left Mr.. Baldwin
and the boys and commenced to skirt
the wall Of thorn with the object Of
attacking him in his retreat. had
reached the OF, from which 1 was sep
arated by a few thorns, when an alb
normally large lion cantered down the
tunnel" and stood for a moment look
ing at Mr.. Baldwin. The bush would
To-: allow Inc 10 get my rife round be-
fore the lion. catching sight Of ME
not two yards from him for the first
time, turned round and trotted back to
covert. 1 then continued the thanking
movement, until a brownish bacS-
ground, beyond a small opening IN the
thorns, arrested my advance, and
co.ld determine whether ] saw a>small
piece OF lion or Of an ant-heap or bark
less tree. A movement Of dark spot,
after had been watching for SOME
seconds, told me that what / had In
front Of me must be the lion, and that
the spot must be his nose or his ear,
either of which, according as he was
facing me or standing sideways, made |
an excellent bulls eye for a brain shot |
/ raised my rife and took a cerefil |
alma report-a sudden movement OF |
the fawn mass-and all was still again. |
On examining the carcass 1t was found |
that the bullet had passed up the right |
nostrIl and through the brain crashing |
through the atlas vertebra and resting |
under the skin. Measurement showed |
him to be much above the average, his |
length from muzzle to tip Of tail being
9 feet 10 inches. and his standing |
height, taken between assegais, from
the pads of his heels to the shoulder
points, Just 43 inches. In shoulder
only one larger seems to
have been bagged-one shot by Mr..
Selous, which scaled A inches. Els
name, unfortunately, left much TO De
desired. With the aid Of a long pole
and several natives he was carried Into
the station. There was great rejoicing
among the natives that Sunday morn
Ing. who congregated in large numbers
and finished up by eating the carcass Of
their fallen foe. Notwithstanding the
tact that two Of their women-folk were
sntombed therein.-A. s. II. Gibbons.