Till  they  thinned  out  into  a  tail  I  could  not  begin  to  shoot,
but  there  were  such  numbers  that  even  then  I  knocked  over
six  at  exceedingly  close  quarters.  The  danger  was  being
run  over  or  butted  down  in  the  headlong  stampede.  The
same  thing  has  happened  to  me,  and  I  dare  say  to  many
all-round  shots,  with  elephants.  How  they  avoided  or
missed  you — for  they  didn't  seem  to  try  to  avoid — you
can't  tell ;  you  come  out  of  it  without  a  scratch,  and  there-
fore as  a  rule  think  no  more  of  it.'

Leaving  the  Ba-Katla  after  three  months'  magnificent
sport,  the  wagons    made  their  way  slowly  towards  the


CAUGHT    A    PROJECTING    BOUGH    .    .    .    AND    DRAWING    MY
KNEES    UP    ...    HE    PASSED    BELOW    ME.
8—2


AFRICA:  FIRST  EXPEDITION  117

Ba-Wangketsi.  Before  reaching  them  an  event  occurred
which,  in  Oswell's  words,  '  coloured  the  whole  of  my
African  life  and  will  colour  my  life  as  long  as  I  live ' :

'  We  were  trekking  through  some  low  sand-hills  covered
with  scrub,  when  three  lions  crossed  about  fifty  yards
ahead  of  the  oxen.  Snatching  up  a  gun  I  jumped  from
the  wagon  and  called  upon  someone  to  follow  me  with  a
heavy  rifle  that  was  always  kept  loaded  as  a  reserve  battery.
