82 SPORT BY THE RIVER of four lions, two large and two small, who had apparently been inspecting us from afar as we slept.

Leaving the camels to follow, we plough patiently up the weary river-bed, and often see a wee speck on the distant sand, which we feel sure is looking at us—mere sensation, but still distinct. As we march it expands, and a point sticks out at one side. This point develops two further ones above, and the speck becomes a watchful buck with head and ears defined. Often it does not move until 500 yards divide us, when it airily skips over the soft, deep sand which causes our animals such trouble and toil.

The lion had been more or less of a shadow and a fantasy since my departure, but now for the first time we heard him, far behind us in the distance. No fewer than six had been shot here by a party which passed us, perhaps accounting for the respectful distance from which this animal spoke. A great growling grunt boomed through the atmosphere as the sun sank low, and was repeated continually with decreasing intervals ; then silence, and the cadence began over again.

The oncoming darkness augmented the impressiveness of the sound, and the shikaris, recognizing the futility of a chase, fell to mimicking the mannerisms of his tones with hilarious amusement ; but those whose life is not cast continually amongst wild beasts can but feel instinctively that the animal is surely great which can impress the