The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber

The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber Summary | Detailed Summary

Francis Macomber and his wife Margaret are on safari in Africa. Robert Wilson, a professional hunter, accompanies them, along with several local hired servants. The story begins at lunchtime where the three have gathered in the dining tent, drinking vodka gimlets. Shortly before, a group of servants had carried Macomber to his tent in a display of triumph followed by a brief, wordless exchange with his wife. In the dining tent, Wilson congratulates Macomber on his lion, eliciting a slight glare from Mrs. Macomber, a beautiful woman of distinguished social position. Wilson smiles at her in response with his red face and cold blue eyes. Francis Macomber is described as 35, relatively handsome, and tall. Despite the fact that he considers himself physically fit, good at court games and a successful fisherman, he has just shown himself to actually be a coward.

Mrs. Macomber dismisses the subject of the lion and unsuccessfully attempts to turn the conversation instead to Robert Wilson's ruddy complexion. When the men return to the lion in irritation, she flees to her tent in tears. In her absence, Macomber thanks Wilson again for his help.

The instigation of a strange look from one of the servant boys carries the men to the topic of the suitable punishment of servants. While an employer is legally instructed to fine the errant servant, many still frequently resort to beatings. Francis, putting his foot in his mouth, asks Wilson if he will refrain from repeating the story of the lion. Taken aback by the American's question, he assures him that as a professional hunter, he does not discuss his clients and informs him that it is bad form to request his silence. An apology from Macomber for having bolted during the hunt confuses Wilson, who is not sure what to expect from this man.

Before Mrs. Macomber returns, they discuss the buffalo they will be hunting in the morning. With a new calm, Mrs. Macomber joins the men. Wilson ponders the quandary of the American woman while husband and wife discuss whether she will be present at the next day's hunt. The bickering continues and Wilson tries to figure out what kind of a game Mrs. Macomber is playing with her husband.

Wilson and Macomber head out by themselves in the evening to scout out the next day's route. Macomber manages a good shot, killing an impala. Both men are trying to put the business of the lion behind them. However, lying in bed that night, Macomber realizes that it will not be such an easy thing to do. He contemplates his fear, remembering the first time he heard the lion roar.

The story then follows Macomber's reminiscence through a first hand account of what happened with the lion. In the morning, preparing for the hunt, they had heard the lion's roar. He and Wilson had discussed strategy and Macomber had tried to shrug off his uneasiness. Mrs. Macomber joined them in the motor car as they stalked their prey. Macomber describes the experience of getting out of the car and facing the lion, and then the lion's experience of being shot. Macomber tried to take the animal down as he began to run, but the lion made it into the tall grass. Wilson instructed Macomber that they needed to wait before going in for him to finish the job. Macomber's reluctance was obvious, portraying his ignorance about the rules of the sport.

The men then approached the injured lion. Hearing their voices, the animal charged at his attackers. Macomber, acting instinctually out of fear, turned and fled. He heard Wilson kill the lion. He quickly realized that everyone, including his wife, had watched him flee the kill. As they sat in the shade while the gun handlers skinned the lion, Mrs. Macomber made it clear to her husband that she was disgusted by his show of fear, and then boldly kissed Wilson on the mouth before snubbing Macomber. The rest of the day moved on in silence. Macomber contemplated the consequences of his actions, his wife's response and whether or not she would leave him. That night, having difficulty sleeping, Macomber woke to realize that his wife was not beside him in the tent. When she returned, she made little attempt to conceal where she had been. Macomber reminded his wife that she had promised that there would not be any of that kind of behavior on the trip and she sweetly reminded him that she has the advantage because she is certain that he will never leave her.

In the morning, the tension has increased between the two men. Mrs. Macomber threatens her husband, telling him that if he makes a scene, she will leave him. He does not believe her. They tell each other to behave, but each replies that they are too tired. Wilson brings up the car and they follow the river in search of the buffalo. Wilson contemplates the location of the animals and the lady's visit the night before. He does not feel badly about his digression, rather he is accustomed to certain benefits of the profession.

Having located three buffalo, the two men get out of the car and face the animals with their rifles. The first goes down quickly with Macomber's first shot and Wilson nails the second. The third animal takes off and the men climb into the car to chase him. Both men take the buffalo down once they are within range. Then they pat each other on the back and retire to the shade for a drink. Mrs. Macomber is slightly shaken but excited by the kill. She asks Wilson whether it was fair to chase the animals in a motor car and he replies that they gave the animals their due respect. He says that it was equally as dangerous as pursuing them on foot, if not more so, but that it is considered illegal. Mrs. Macomber inquires as to what would happen if they were to hear about his practices back in Nairobi and Wilson replies that he would lose his license and be out of business. Francis Macomber points out that now his wife has something to hold over Wilson.

Realizing that they are missing one of the gun handler servants, Macomber began to panic. The man, approaching from the distance calls out to Wilson that the first buffalo had gotten up and gone into the bush. Mrs. Macomber curtly points out that this will be just like the lion incident. Wilson quickly disagrees. Macomber suspects that the fear will return, but it does not. The three of them examine the second bull killed, his massive horns spread wide. At Mrs. Macomber's request, they retire to the shade. She looks pale and sick as they discuss Macomber's success. Macomber explains that he feels like a new man and Wilson reflects on seeing men come of age and let go of their fear. Mrs. Macomber bitterly comments that her husband seems to have gotten suddenly brave and wonders aloud that it is a little late for that kind of a change.

Having given the buffalo some time to die in the bush, the two men discuss their strategy for approach. They all get back in the motor car and drive over to the area where the buffalo disappeared. The gun bearer goes in ahead of them and announces that the buffalo is dead, but just as the men begin to congratulate each other, the servant comes running out of the bush screaming. The buffalo charges behind him, his eyes on the white men and with blood dripping from his nose. Wilson kneels and begins to shoot, while Macomber, still standing aims directly under the animal's horns. Macomber describes how he can see the animal's eyes and its head lower as it approaches him, but then there is a blinding flash inside his head. Wilson ducks to the side to aim for the animal's neck and just as the buffalo seems about to gore Macomber, his wife shoots from the car and hit her husband at the base of his skull. Kneeling over him, Wilson instructs her not to turn the body over and to get back in the car. Wilson curtly tells her "That was a pretty thing to do; he would have left you too" (page 36). She begs him to stop speaking.

He tells her that it was an accident and that he will have pictures taken for the inquest. He says that he will have to send a truck to get a plane to bring them to Nairobi. He asks why didn't she just poison him as they do in England? Crying, she tells him to stop, but it is only when she finally says please that he is silent.