In a few moments I was
rewarded, for as I watched the spot where I
expected the lion to appear, there was a rustling
among the bushes and I saw him stealthily emerge
into the open and pass almost directly beneath
us. I fired both barrels practically together into
his shoulder, and to my joy could see him go
down under the force of the blow. Quickly
I reached for the magazine rifle, but before I
could use it, he was out of sight among the bushes,
and I had to fire after him quite at random.
Nevertheless I was confident of getting him in
the morning, and accordingly set out as soon as
it was light. For over a mile there was no
difficulty in following the blood-trail, and as he
had rested several times I felt sure that he had
been badly wounded. In the end, however, my
hunt proved fruitless, for after a time the traces
of blood ceased and the surface of the ground
became rocky, so that I was no longer able to
follow the spoor.

Chapter 9