4 Man^sjittest Mode of Defence against 



hinder parts with his teeth, and hung on them, until the 

 affrighted animal managed to shake him off by incessant 

 kicking. 



The lion retreated farther into the thicket; Captain Wood- 

 house, in the mean time, firing a random shot at him, which 

 proved of no avail ; as the jolting of the elephant, and the 

 uproar of the moment, prevented him from taking a steady 

 aim. No exertions on the part of the officers could now force 

 the terrified elephant to face his fierce foe, and they found 

 themselves reduced to the necessity of dismounting. Deter- 

 mined, however, to come to still closer quarters with the formid- 

 able king of quadrupeds, Capt. Woodhouse took the desperate 

 resolution to proceed on foot in quest of him ; and, after 

 searching about for some time, he saw the lion indistinctly 

 through the bushes, and discharged his rifle at him; but he 

 was pretty well convinced that he had not hit him ; for he saw 

 the lion retire, with the utmost composure, into the thicker 

 parts of the brake. The two lieutenants, who had remained 

 at the outside of the jungle, joined their companion, on hear- 

 ing the report of his gun. 



The weather was intolerably sultry. After vainly spending 

 a considerable time in creeping through the grass and bushes, 

 with the hope of discovering the place of the lion's retreat, 

 they concluded that he had passed quite through the jungle, 

 and gone off in an opposite direction. Resolved not to let 

 their game escape, the lieutenants returned to the elephant, 

 and immediately proceeded round the jungle, expecting to 

 discover the route which they conjectured the lion had taken. 

 Captain Woodhouse, however, remained in the thicket, and, 

 as he could discern the print of the animal's feet on the 

 ground, he boldly resolved to follow up the track, at all 

 hazards. The Indian gamefinder, who continued with his 

 commander, at last espied the lion in the cover, and pointed 

 him out to the captain, who fired, but unfortunately missed 

 his mark. There was now no alternative left but to retreat and 

 load his rifle. Having retired to a distance, he was joined by 

 Lieutenant Delamain, who had dismounted from his elephant 

 on hearing the report of the gun. This unexpected meeting 

 increased the captain's hopes of ultimate success. He lost no 

 time in pointing out to the lieutenant the place where he 

 would probably find the lion, and said he would be up with 

 him in a moment or two. 



Lieutenant Delamain, on going eight or ten paces down a 

 sheep-track, got a sight of the lion, and instantly discharged 

 his rifle at him. 



