Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03

so venomous. and balefu1 as to make
one shudder. The next moment 1t
would surely spring. This was too
much for me.
"Jehosophat!" I cried. "it's alive"
and fell over feathers, who carried the
lantern. The lantern crashed to earth,
f1ickered an instant and-went out
The next three minutes were chaos.
When the boys arrived, years later 1t
seemed, with a couple of fresh lanterns.
found myself hugging Leather's griz-
zled form in manner that 1t mortifies
me to think of even now. My son was
slowly strangling me to death. From
the bottom of the heap, Flint in a
feeble voice was calling for air. The
leopard hadn't moved.
ut must be dead, after ALL" said
with a meaningless laugh, as we rear
ranged our disheveled night-robes, "but
that light in its eyes-where did 1t come
from?"
1T had been dead just about min
ute when we flashed the light on it"
said Flint Its eyes hadn't had time
to grow stony But haven't you been
down here long enough to leave off do
ing things like that? You've gotten into
the habit of Starting 2 panic day.
Now you've ruined q perfectly good pair
Late afternoon saw us struggling into
Kijabi At an Indian Duka purchased
some hatchets and presented them to
the boys as parting gift. They seemed
as pleased as children-all but one, in
whose sad eyes two large tears formed
and trickled down his cheeks.
What is his trouble?" inquired.
He says he expected a sword" re-
piled Flint disgustedly.
ct can't stand this-I'1l give him a
sword" 7 exclaimed
Then dogs, boys, and feathers, In a
conglomerate mess, boarded freight
train and clattered northwards.
That night we dined at Nairobi.
Flint had accompanied us to see us
off the following day. The evening we
spent reminiscing and, packing.
1--WE only one regret" Flint remark
ed You didn't get lion." ILL.,,
Another time told him, "for some
day we are coming back"
In the morning, dressed in wrinkled,
storish-looking clothes, we went to take
up our steamer tickets. Then we were
staggered by the news that the sailing
had been deferred week. A wet rice
cargo, swelling, had opened some seams
on the boat. 5.f.
"She is re most naught riz zis CON-
pany evar handle" said the agent. "I
60 distract Ifgo crazee."
That's all right with me-" said my
son. And we drifted out to hold coun-
Gil of war on the sidewalk.
Its easier to break into this country
than 1t Is to break out of it," remark
ed. What can we possibly do to kill
a week."
"Try and kill lion," Flint replied.
FYvVAn @<>
Mechaka, IS miles south of Nairobi
We passed, at length, a small, rocky
hill rising q hundred feet or so from
the level of the veldt.
That's Wani," said Flint. eff there
are any lion in the neighborhood, they'll
be on Wami. A man named Stub owns
it."
WE turned toward the hills, passing
w several orange groves, and stopped
before half-finished mud house. A
nervous, muscular individual appeared
Flint IT say, Stub" he continued, ARE
there any lion on Wami?"
Three" replied Stub promptly.
How about terms?" said Flint. They
withdrew and held an animated CONVEX
sation.
Then Flint turned to me-. "This is
frightfully mercenary proposition" he
reported, "but it's Stubs livelihood at
present. If you want to see lion, here
it is. He'll let us kill one lion on Wami
for IS pounds, or two for 25. The
proposition Is, no lion-no money.
ut only figures about sixpence a
pound. That's cheap for lion. Our
friend should stud the roads with signs
G$.4Ia Eo
pound-Fresh daily He doesn't realize
the value of little intelligent adver-
Using"
Dawn of the following morning saw
us comfortably ensconced behind a
pile of rocks on the summit of Wami,
while 20 boys beat its slopes. began to
feel ridiculous. 1t seemed a SacrilegiouS
perversion of the ethics of hunting.
This is little too much," ! re-
marked.
eff rabbit breaks cover and charges
us, we can always scream for helpi"
my son volunteered
The afternoon drew to close. We
were scuffling ainlessly along the hill
side. Suddenly Stub uttered a manical
yell-"There they are!" Pandemonium
broke loose. My son and were thrust
forward Behind US, Flint and Stub
seemed to have completely lost their
senses. D'abolical yells and wild pro-
family split the air. The sight of the
lion transformed them into primeval
savages. AS for myself, ! could see
nothing.
Shoot! She's coming!" yelled Stub.
Then a tawny something moved, and
saw them. To my horror, 70 yards
below us on the hillside, stood-not one,
but four, lions; male, a female and
two half-grown cubs.
The lion regarded us calmly: behind
him the young ones moved restlessly to
and FRO The lioneSS Cfoliched hrnAd-