MAMMALIA — LION. 171 



large evergreen bush, with a small space of open gro ana on one side of it ; 

 and they fancied, on approaching, that they saw him distinctly lying glaring 

 at them from beneath the foliage. Charging the Bastuards to stand firm 

 and level fair, should they miss, the Scottish champions let fly together, and 

 struck, not the lion, as it afterwards proved, but a great block of red stone, 

 beyond which he was actually lying. Whether any of the shot grazed him 

 is uncertain, but, Avith no other warning than a furious growl, forth he 

 bolted from the bush. The pusillanimous Bastuards, in place of now pouring 

 n their volley upon him, instantly turned and fled helter-skelter, leaving him 

 to do his pleasure upon the defenceless Scots ; who, with empty guns, were 

 tumbling over each other, in their hurry to escape, the clutch of the rampant 

 savage. In a twinkling he was upon them, and with one stroke of his paw 

 dashed the nearest to the ground. The scene was terrific ! There stood 

 the lion with his paw upon his prostrate foe, looking round in conscious 

 power and pride upon the bands of his assailants, and with a port the most 

 noble and imposing that can be conceived. It was the most magnificent 

 thing I ever witnessed. The danger of our friends, however, rendered it at 

 the moment too terrible to enjoy either the grand or the ludicrous part of 

 the picture. We expected every instant to see one or more of them torn 

 in pieces ; nor, though the rest of the party were standing within fifty paces 

 with their guns cocked and levelled, durst we fire for their assistance. One 

 was lying under the lion's paw, and the others scrambling towards us in 

 such a way as to intercept our aim at him. All this passed far more rapid- 

 ly than I have described it. But luckily, the lion, after steadily surveying 

 us for a few seconds, seemed willing to be quits with us on fair terms ; and 

 with a fortunate forbearance, (for which he met but an ungrateful recom- 

 pense,) turned calmly away, and driving the snarling dogs like rats from 

 among his heels, bounded over the adjoining thicket, like a cat over a foot- 

 stool, clearing brakes and bushes twelve or fifteen feet high, as readily as 

 if they had been tufts of grass, and, abandoning the jungle, retreated 

 towards the mountains. 



"After ascertaining the state of our rescued comrade, (who fortunately 

 had sustained no other injury than a slight scratch on the back, and a severe 

 bruise in the ribs, from the force with which the animal had dashed him to 

 the ground,) we renewed the chase Avith Hottentots and hounds in full cry. 

 In a short time we again came up with the enemy, and found him standing 

 at bay under an old mimosa tree, by the side of a mountain stream, which 

 we had distinguished by the name of Douglas water. The dogs were bark- 

 ing round, but afraid to approach him, for he was now beginning to growl 

 fiercely, and to brandish his tail in a manner that showed he was meditating 

 mischief. The Hottentots, by taking a circuit between him and the moun- 

 tain, crossed the stream, and took a position on the top of a precipice 

 overlooking the spot where he stood. Another party of us occupied a posi- 

 tion on the other side of the glen ; and placing the poor fellow thus between 



