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e determines absolutely that the lion is not within that distance。 The rest is alertness and quickness。
As I have said； the amount of cover necessary to conceal a lion is astonishingly small。 He can flatten himself out surprisingly； and his tawny colour blends so well with the brown grasses that he is practically invisible。 A practised man does not； of course； look for lions at all。 He is after unusual small patches； especially the black ear tips or the black of the mane。 Once guessed at； it is interesting to see how quickly the hitherto unsuspected animal sketches itself out in the cover。
I should； before passing on to another aspect of the matter； mention the dangerous poisons carried by the lion's claws。 Often men have died from the most trivial surface wounds。 The grooves of the claws carry putrefying meat from the kills。 Every sensible man in a lion country carries a small syringe； and either permanganate or carbolic。 And those mild little remedies he uses full strength！
The great and overwhelming advantage is of course with the hunter。 He possesses as deadly a weapon： and that weapon will kill at a distance。 This is proper； I think。 There are more lions than hunters； and； from our point of view； the man is more important than the beast。 The game is not too hazardous。 By that I mean that； barring sheer accident； a man is sure to come out all right provided he does accurately the right thing。 In other words； it is a dangerous game of skill； but it does not possess the blind danger of a forest in a hurricane； say。 Furthermore； it is a game that no man need play unless he wants to。 In the lion country he may go about his business…daytime business…as though he were home at the farm。
Such being the case； may I be pardoned for intruding one of my own small ethical ideas at this point； with the full realization that it depends upon an entirely personal point of view。 As far as my own case goes； I consider it poor sportsmanship ever to refuse a lion…chance merely because the advantages are not all in my favour。 After all； lion hunting is on a different plane from ordinary shooting： it is a challenge to war； a deliberate seeking for mortal combat。 Is it not just a little shameful to pot old felis leo at long range； in the open； near his kill； and wherever we have him at an advantage…nine times； and then to back out because that advantage is for once not so marked？ I have so often heard the phrase； 〃I let him （or them） alone。 It was not good enough；〃 meaning that the game looked a little risky。
Do not misunderstand。 I am not advising that you bull ahead into the long grass； or that alone you open fire on a half dozen lions in easy range。 Kind providence endowed you with strategy； and certainly you should never go in where there is no show for you to use your weapon effectively。 But occasionally the odds will be against you and you will be called upon to take more or less of a chance。 I do not think it is quite square to quit playing merely because for once your opponent has been dealt the better cards。 If here are too many of them see if you cannot manoeuvre them； if the grass is long； try every means in your power to get them out。 Stay with them。 If finally you fail； you will at least have the satisfaction of knowing that circumstances alone have defeated you。 If you do not like that sort of a game； stay out of it entirely。
XII。 MORE LIONS
Nor do the last remarks of the preceding chapter mean that you shall not have your trophy in peace。 Perhaps excitement and a slight doubt as to whether or not you are going to survive do not appeal to you； but nevertheless you would like a lion skin or so。 By all means shoot one lion； or two； or three in the safest fashion you can。 But after that you ought to play the game。
The surest way to get a lion is to kill a zebra； cut holes in him； fill the holes with strychnine； and come back next morning。 This method is absolutely safe。
The next safest way is to follow the quarry with a pack of especially trained dogs。 The lion is so busy and nervous over those dogs that you can walk up and shoot him in the ear。 This method has the excitement of riding and following； the joy of a grand and noisy row； and the fun of seeing a good dog…fight。 The same effect can be got chasing wart…hogs； hyenas； jackals…or jack…rabbits。 The objection is that it wastes a noble beast in an inferior game。 My personal opinion is that no man is justified in following with dogs any large animal that can be captured with reasonable certainty without them。 The sport of coursing is another matter； but that is quite the same in essence whatever the size of the quarry。 If you want to kill a lion or so quite safely； and at the same time enjoy a glorious and exciting gallop with lots of accompanying row； by all means follow the sport with hounds。 But having killed one or two by that method； quit。 Do not go on and clean up the country。 You can do it。 Poison and hounds are the SURE methods of finding any lion there may be about； and AFTER THE FIRST FEW； one is about as justifiable as the other。 If you want the undoubtedly great joy of cross country pursuit； send your hounds in after less noble game。
The third safe method of killing a lion is nocturnal。 You lay out a kill beneath a tree； and climb the tree。 Or better； you hitch out a pig or donkey as live bait。 When the lion comes to this free lunch； you try to see him； and； if you succeed in that； you try to shoot him。 It is not easy to shoot at night； nor is it easy to see in the dark。 Furthermore； lions only occasionally bother to come to bait。 You may roost up that tree many nights before you get a chance。 Once up； you have to stay up； for it is most decidedly not safe to go home after dark。 The tropical night in the highlands is quite chilly。 Branches seem to be quite as cramping and abrasive under the equator as in the temperate zones。 Still； it is one method。
Another is to lay out a kill and visit it in the early morning。 There is more to this； for you are afoot； must generally search out your beast in nearby cover； and can easily find any amount of excitement in the process。
The fourth way is to ride the lion。 The hunter sees his quarry returning home across the plains； perhaps； or jumps it from some small bushy ravine。 At once he spurs his horse in pursuit。 The lion will run but a short distance before coming to a stop； for he is not particularly long either of wind or of patience。 From this stand he almost invariably charges。 The astute hunter； still mounted； turns and flees。 When the lion gets tired of chasing； which he does in a very short time； the hunter faces about。 At last the lion sits down in the grass； waiting for the game to develop。 This is the time for the hunter to dismount and to take his shot。 Quite likely he must now stand a charge afoot； and drop his beast before it gets to him。
This is real fun。 It has many elements of safety； and many of danger。
To begin with； the hunter at this game generally has companions to back him： often he employs mounted Somalis to round the lion up and get it to stand。 The charging lion is quite apt to make for the conspicuous mounted men…who can easily escape…ignoring the hunter afoot。 As th