the land of footprints-第21节
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ions with it； but my real 〃lion gun〃 with which I had done best work was the 405 Winchester。 The Springfield is too light for such game。 Also there were two lions； very close。 Also I was quite alone。
As the game stood； it hardly looked like my move； so I held still and waited。 Presently one yawned； they looked at each other； turned quite leisurely； and began to move away at a walk。
This was a different matter。 If I had fired while the two were facing me； I should probably have had them both to deal with。 But now that their tails were turned toward me； I should very likely have to do with only the one： at the crack of the rifle the other would run the way he was headed。 So I took a careful bead at the lioness and let drive。
My aim was to cripple the pelvic bone； but； unfortunately； just as I fired； the beast wriggled lithely sidewise to pass around a tuft of grass； so that the bullet inflicted merely a slight flesh wound on the rump。 She whirled like a flash； and as she raised her head high to locate me； I had time to wish that the Springfield hit a trifle harder blow。 Also I had time to throw another cartridge in the barrel。
The moment she saw me she dropped her head and charged。 She was thoroughly angry and came very fast。 I had just enough time to steady the gold bead on her chest and to pull trigger。
At the shot； to my great relief； she turned bottom up； and I saw her tail for an instant above the grass…an almost sure indication of a bad hit。 She thrashed around； and made a tremendous hullabaloo of snarls and growls。 I backed out slowly； my rifle ready。 It was no place for me； for the grass was over knee high。
Once at a safe distance I blazed a tree with my hunting knife and departed for camp； well pleased to be out of it。 At camp I ate lunch and had a smoke； then with Memba Sasa and Mavrouki returned to the scene of trouble。 I had now the 405 Winchester； a light and handy weapon delivering a tremendous blow。
We found the place readily enough。 My lioness had recovered from the first shock and had gone。 I was very glad I had gone first。
The trail was not very plain； but it could be followed a foot or so at a time； with many faults and casts back。 I walked a yard to one side while the men followed the spoor。 Owing to the abundance of cover it was very nervous work； for the beast might be almost anywhere； and would certainly charge。 We tried to keep a neutral zone around ourselves by tossing stones ahead of and on both sides of our line of advance。 My own position was not bad； for I had the rifle ready in my hand； but the men were in danger。 Of course I was protecting them as well as I could； but there was always a chance that the lioness might spring on them in such a manner that I would be unable to use my weapon。 Once I suggested that as the work was dangerous； they could quit if they wanted to。
〃Hapana！〃 they both refused indignantly。
We had proceeded thus for half a mile when to our relief； right ahead of us； sounded the commanding； rumbling half…roar； half…growl of the lion at bay。
Instantly Memba Sasa and Mavrouki dropped back to me。 We all peered ahead。 One of the boys made her out first； crouched under a bush thirty…two yards away。 Even as I raised the rifle she saw us and charged。 I caught her in the chest before she had come ten feet。 The heavy bullet stopped her dead。 Then she recovered and started forward slowly； very weak； but game to the last。 Another shot finished her。
The remarkable point of this incident was the action of the little Springfield bullet。 Evidently the very high velocity of this bullet from its shock to the nervous system had delivered a paralyzing blow sufficient to knock out the lioness for the time being。 Its damage to tissue； however； was slight。 Inasmuch as the initial shock did not cause immediate death； the lioness recovered sufficiently to be able； two hours later； to take the offensive。 This point is of the greatest interest to the student of ballistics； but it is curious to even the ordinary reader。
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
