"I never appreciated the Winchester so much," said she, "as when I killed my first lion with it. He was a grand old brute, one of the largest of his race. He had been prowling around the camp at night, and once, when the moon was bright, I went out determined to shoot him. We had put a bait out for him just on the edge of a ridge, so that when the lion came he was between me and the sky. I was about fifty yards away from him, with this rifle. The first shot did not bring him, but he gave a terrific roar. Instantly I fired a second shot, then a third, and then a fourth. The lion fell, and there was no more disturbance that night. I could not get the men to go out and see the result of my shot, as they were afraid the mate of the animal might be about and would seek revenge. The next morning they were bold enough and went; there was my lion as dead as a door-nail, and every bullet had told."
CHAPTER X.
AN INVITATION ACCEPTED—ANOTHER BUFFALO—PREPARING
LUNCHEON IN STYLE.
Then from Winchesters the talk ran to other rifles. I suspected that this diversion was in order to avoid an answer to my invitation, and at the first convenient pause in the rifle-talk I again started to leave the tent. Thereupon Mrs. Roberts stopped me and said:
"It will give us pleasure to accept your invitation, and if the weather justifies we will call at your camp the day after to-morrow."
"Thank you very much," I answered; "it will give us great pleasure, and if the facilities of the country permitted you might expect a band of music to welcome your arrival. But as an orchestra is not to be had we must content ourselves with the resources of the country. May I ask at about what time we may look for you?"
"Oh, somewhere in the neighborhood of noon, I suppose," she replied.
"Will you do us the honor to take luncheon with us during your call!" I asked.
"With pleasure," the lady answered; "and we shall look for ice-cream, oysters, and all the delicacies of London and New York combined."
"Certainly," I replied; "all we have to do is to send to Delmonico's and Gatty's, and that we can do with the utmost ease."