the land of footprints-第22部分
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ing 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 find yourself often at fault。 The lion is a very intelligent and crafty beast； and addicted to tricks。 If you follow a lion to a small hill； it is well to go around that hill on the side opposite to that taken by your quarry。 You are quite likely to meet him for he is clever enough thus to try to get in your rear。 He will lie until you have actually passed him before breaking off。 He will circle ahead； then back to confuse his trail。 And when you catch sight of him in the distance； you would never suspect that he knew of your presence at all。 He saunters slowly； apparently aimlessly； along pausing often； evidently too bored to take any interest in life。 You wait quite breathlessly for him to pass behind cover。 Then you are going to make a very rapid advance； and catch his leisurely retreat。 But the moment old Leo does pass behind the cover； his appearance of idle stroller vanishes。 In a dozen bounds he is gone。
That is what makes lion hunting delightful。 There are some regions； very near settlements； where it is perhaps justifiable to poison these beasts。 If you are a true sportsman you will confine your hound…hunting to those districts。 Elsewhere； as far as playing fair with a noble beast is concerned； you may as well toss a coin to see which you shall take…your pack or a strychnine bottle。
XIII。 ON THE MANAGING OF A SAFARI
We made our way slowly down the river。 As the elevation dropped； the temperature rose。 It was very hot indeed during the day； and in the evening the air was tepid and caressing； and musical with the hum of insects。 We sat about quite comfortably in our pajamas； and took our fifteen grains of quinine per week against the fever。
The character of the jungle along the river changed imperceptibly； the dhum palms crowding out the other trees； until； at our last camp； were nothing but palms。 The wind in them sounded variously like the patter or the gathering onrush of rain。 On either side the country remained unchanged； however。 The volcanic hills rolled away to the distant ranges。 Everywhere grew sparsely the low thornbrush； opening sometimes into clear plains； closing sometimes into dense thickets。 One morning we awoke to find that many supposedly sober…minded trees had burst into blossom fairly over night。 They were red； and yellow and white that before were green； a truly gorgeous sight。
Then we turned sharp to the right and began to ascend a little tributary brook coming down the wide flats from a cleft in the hills。 This was prettily named the Isiola； and； after the first mile or so； was not big enough to afford the luxury of a jungle of its own。 Its banks were generally grassy and steep； its thickets few； and its little trees isolated in parklike spaces。 To either side of it； and almost at its level； stretched plains； but plains grown with scattered brush and shrubs so that at a mile or two one's vista was closed。 But for all its scant ten feet of width the Isiola stood upon its dignity as a stream。 We discovered that when we tried to cross。 The men floundered waist…deep on uncertain bottom； the syces received much unsympathetic comment for their handling of the animals； and we had to get Billy over by a melodramatic 〃bridge of life〃 with B。； F。； myself； and Memba Sasa in the title roles。
Then we pitched camp in the open on the other side； sent the horses back from the stream until after dark； in fear of the deadly tsetse fly； and prepared to enjoy a good exploration of the neighbourhood。 Whereupon M'ganga rose up to his gaunt and terrific height of authority； stretched forth his bony arm at right angles； and uttered between eight and nine thousand commands in a high dynamic monotone without a single pause for breath。 These； supplemented by about as many more； resulted in （a） a bridge across the stream； and （b） a banda。
A banda is a delightful African institution。 It springs from nothing in about two hours； but it takes twenty boys with a vitriolic M'ganga back of them to bring it about。 Some of them carry huge backloads of grass； or papyrus； or cat…tail rushes； as the case may be； others lug in poles of various lengths from where their comrades are cutting them by means of their panga。 A panga； parenthetically； is the safari man's substitute for axe； shovel； pick； knife； sickle； lawn…mower； hammer； gatling gun； world's library of classics； higher mathematics； grand opera； and toothpicks。 It looks rather like a machete with a very broad end and a slight curved back。 A good man can do extraordinary things with it。 Indeed； at this moment； two boys are with this apparently clumsy implement delicately peeling some of the small thorn trees； from the bared trunks of which they are stripping long bands of tough inner bark。
With these three raw materials…poles； withes； and grass…M'ganga and his men set to work。 They planted their corner and end poles； they laid their rafters； they completed their framework； binding all with the tough withes； then deftly they thatched it with the grass。 Almost before we had settled our own affairs； M'ganga was standing before us smiling。 Gone now was his mien of high indignation and swirling energy。
〃Banda naquisha；〃 he informed us。
And we moved in our table and our canvas chairs； hung up our water bottles； Billy got out her fancy work。 Nothing could be pleasanter nor more appropriate to the climate than this wide low arbour； open at either end to the breezes； thatched so thickly that the fierce sun could nowhere strike through。
The men had now settled down to a knowledge of what we were like； and things were going smoothly。 At first the African porter will try it on to see just how easy you are likely to prove。 If he makes up his mind that you really are easy； then you are in for infinite petty annoyance； and possibly open mutiny。 Therefore； for a little while； it is necessary to be extremely vigilant； to insist on minute performance in all circumstances where later you might condone an omission。 For the same reason punishment must be more frequent and more severe at the outset。 It is all a matter of watching the temper of the men。 If they are cheerful and willing； you are not nearly as p
