98 Wild Beasts 



we lighted our fire, and closed the entrance as well as we 

 could. 



" My terrified people sat around the fire with guns in 

 their hands, fancying at every moment that the lion would 

 return and spring into the midst of us. When the dogs 

 were first let go, the stupid brutes, as dogs often, prove to 

 be when most needed, instead of going at the lion, rushed 

 fiercely at one another and fought desperately for some 

 minutes. After this they got his wind, and going at him, 

 disclosed his position. They kept up a continual barking 

 until day dawned, the lion occasionally springing at them 

 and driving them in upon the kraal. This horrible monster 

 lay all night within forty yards of us, consuming the 

 wretched man he had chosen for his prey. He had 

 dragged him into a little hollow at the back of the thick 

 bush beside which the fire was kindled, and there he re- 

 mained until day broke, careless of our proximity. 



" It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendric rose 

 to drive in the ox, the lion watched him to his fireside, 

 and he had scarcely lain down before the brute sprang 

 upon him and Ruyter (for both were under one blanket) 

 with his appalling roar ; and, roaring as he lay, grappled 

 him with his fearful claws, and kept biting the poor man's 

 chest and shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck, hav- 

 ing got hold of which, he dragged him away backward 

 round the brush into the dense shade. 



" As the lion lay upon him he faintly cried, ' Help me ! 

 Help me ! Oh God ! men, help me ! ' " 



Here was no instinctive fear of man, no sign of the 

 timidity so much talked about, no falling off of the victim 



