the land of footprints-第24章
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That is a very typical example of finding lions by sheer chance。 Generally a man is out looking for the smallest kind of game when he runs up against them。 Now happened to follow an equally typical example of tracking。
The next day after the killing of the lioness Memba Sasa； Kongoni and I dropped off the bench； and hunted greater kudu on a series of terraces fifteen hundred feet below。 All we found were two rhino； some sing…sing； a heard of impalla； and a tremendous thirst。 In the meantime； Mavrouki had； under orders； scouted the foothills of the mountain range at the back。 He reported none but old tracks of kudu； but said he had seen eight lions not far from our encounter of the day before。
Therefore； as soon next morning as we could see plainly； we again crossed the canyon and the waist…deep stream。 I had with me all three of the gun men； and in addition two of the most courageous porters to help with the tracking and the looking。
About eight o'clock we found the first fresh pad mark plainly outlined in an isolated piece of soft earth。 Immediately we began that most fascinating of games…trailing over difficult ground。 In this we could all take part； for the tracks were some hours old； and the cover scanty。 Very rarely could we make out more than three successive marks。 Then we had to spy carefully for the slightest indication of direction。 Kongoni in especial was wonderful at this； and time and again picked up a broken grass blade or the minutest inch…fraction of disturbed earth。 We moved slowly； in long hesitations and castings about； and in swift little dashes forward of a few feet； and often we went astray on false scents； only to return finally to the last certain spot。 In this manner we crossed the little plain with the scattered shrub trees and arrived at the edge of the low bluff above the stream bottom。
This bottom was well wooded along the immediate bank of the stream itself； fringed with low thick brush； and in the open spaces grown to the edges with high； green； coarse grass。
As soon as we had managed to follow without fault to this grass； our difficulties of trailing were at an end。 The lions' heavy bodies had made distinct paths through the tangle。 These paths went forward sinuously； sometimes separating one from the other； sometimes intertwining； sometimes combining into one for a short distance。 We could not determine accurately the number of beasts that had made them。
〃They have gone to drink water；〃 said Memba Sasa。
We slipped along the twisting paths； alert for indications； came to the edge of the thicket； stooped through the fringe； and descended to the stream under the tall trees。 The soft earth at the water's edge was covered with tracks； thickly overlaid one over the other。 The boys felt of the earth； examined； even smelled； and came to the conclusion that the beasts must have watered about five o'clock。 If so； they might be ten miles away； or as many rods。
We had difficulty in determining just where the party left this place； until finally Kongoni caught sight of suspicious indications over the way。 The lions had crossed the stream。 We did likewise； followed the trail out of the thicket； into the grass； below the little cliffs parallel to the stream； back into the thicket； across the river once more； up the other side； in the thicket for a quarter mile； then out into the grass on that side； and so on。 They were evidently wandering； rather idly； up the general course of the stream。 Certainly； unlike most cats； they did not mind getting their feet wet； for they crossed the stream four times。
At last the twining paths in the shoulder…high grass fanned out separately。 We counted。
〃You were right； Mavrouki；〃 said I； 〃there were eight。〃
At the end of each path was a beaten…down little space where evidently the beasts had been lying down。 With an exclamation the three gunbearers darted forward to investigate。 The lairs were still warm！ Their occupants had evidently made off only at our approach！
Not five minutes later we were halted by a low warning growl right ahead。 We stopped。 The boys squatted on their heels close to me； and we consulted in whispers。
Of course it would be sheer madness to attack eight lions in grass so high we could not see five feet in front of us。 That went without saying。 On the other hand； Mavrouki swore that he had yesterday seen no small cubs with the band； and our examination of the tracks made in soft earth seemed to bear him out。 The chances were therefore that； unless themselves attacked or too close pressed； the lions would not attack us。 By keeping just in their rear we might be able to urge them gently along until they should enter more open cover。 Then we could see。
Therefore we gave the owner of that growl about five minutes to forget it； and then advanced very cautiously。 We soon found where the objector had halted； and plainly read by the indications where he had stood for a moment or so； and then moved on。 We slipped along after。
For five hours we hung at the heels of that band of lions； moving very slowly； perfectly willing to halt whenever they told us to； and going forward again only when we became convinced that they too had gone on。 Except for the first half hour； we were never more than twenty or thirty yards from the nearest lion； and often much closer。 Three or four times I saw slowly gliding yellow bodies just ahead of me； but in the circumstances it would have been sheer stark lunacy to have fired。 Probably six or eight times…I did not count…we were commanded to stop； and we did stop。
It was very exciting work； but the men never faltered。 Of course I went first； in case one of the beasts had the toothache or otherwise did not play up to our calculations on good nature。 One or the other of the gunbearers was always just behind me。 Only once was any comment made。 Kongoni looked very closely into my face。
〃There are very many lions；〃 he remarked doubtfully。
〃Very many lions；〃 I agreed； as though assenting to a mere statement of fact。
Although I am convinced there was no real danger； as long as we stuck to our plan of campaign； nevertheless it was quite interesting to be for so long a period so near these great brutes。 They led us for a mile or so along the course of the stream； sometimes on one side； sometimes on the other。 Several times they emerged into better cover； and even into the open； but always ducked back into the thick again before we ourselves had followed their trail to the clear。
At noon we were halted by the usual growl just as we had reached the edge of the river。 So we sat down on the banks and had lunch。
Finally our chance came。 The trail led us； for the dozenth time； from the high grass into the thicket along the river。 We ducked our heads to enter。 Memba Sasa； next my shoulder； snapped his fingers violently。 Following the direction of the brown arm that shot over my shoulder； I strained my eyes into the dimness of the thicket。 At first I could see nothing at all； but at length a slight motion drew my eye。 Then I made out the silhouette of a lion's head； facing us steadily。 One of the rear guard had again turned to halt us； but this time where he and his surroundings could be seen。
Luckily I always use a Sheard gold bead sight； and even in the dimness of the tree…shaded thicket it showed up well。 The beast was only forty yards away； so I fired at his head。 He rolled over without a sound。
We took the usual great precautions in determining the genuineness of his demise； then carried him into the open。 Strangely enough the bullet had gone so cleanly into his left eye that it had not even broken the edge of the eyelid； so that when skinned he did not show a mark。 He was a very decent maned lion； three feet four inches at the shoulder； and nine feet long as he lay。 We found that he had indeed been the rear guard； and that the rest； on the other side of the thicket； had made off at the shot。 So in spite of the APPARENT danger of the situation； our calculations had worked out perfectly。 Also we had enjoyed a half day's sport of an intensity quite impossible to be extracted from any other method of following the lion。
In trying to guess how any particular lions may act； however； you will
