The only
conclusion I could come to was that they had
pounced upon some poor unsuspecting native
traveller. After a time I was able to make out
their eyes glowing in the darkness, and I took as
careful aim as was possible in the circumstances
and fired; but the only notice they paid to the
shot was to carry off whatever they were
devouring and to retire quietly over a slight
rise, which prevented me from seeing them.
There they finished their meal at their ease.
As soon as it was daylight, I got out of my
crib and went towards the place where I had last
heard them. On the way, whom should I meet
but my missing guest, Mr. Whitehead, looking
very pale and ill, and generally dishevelled.
"Where on earth have you come from?"
I exclaimed. "Why didn't you turn up to dinner
last night?"
"A nice reception you give a fellow when
you invite him to dinner," was his only reply.
"Why, what's up?" I asked.
"That infernal lion of yours nearly did for
me last night," said Whitehead.
"Nonsense, you must have dreamed it!" I
cried in astonishment.
For answer he turned round and showed me
his back. "That's not much of a dream, is
it?" he asked.
His clothing was rent by one huge tear from
the nape of the neck downwards, and on the
flesh there were four great claw marks, showing
red and angry through the torn cloth. Without
further parley, I hurried him off to my tent, and
bathed and dressed his wounds; and when I had
made him considerably more comfortable, I got
from him the whole story of the events of the night.
It appeared that his train was very late, so that
it was quite dark when he arrived at Tsavo
Station, from which the track to my camp lay
through a small cutting. He was accompanied
by Abdullah, his sergeant of askaris, who walked
close behind him carrying a lighted lamp. All
went well until they were about half-way through
the gloomy cutting, when one of the lions
suddenly jumped down upon them from the high
bank, knocking Whitehead over like a ninepin,
and tearing his back in the manner I had seen.
Fortunately, however, he had his carbine with
him, and instantly fired. The flash and the loud
report must have dazed the lion for a second or
two, enabling Whitehead to disengage himself;
but the next instant the brute pounced like
lightning on the unfortunate Abdullah, with
whom he at once made off. All that the poor
fellow could say was:
