XIX ENCOUNTER WITH TWO LIONS 417 



nearer, I saw was a lion, or rather I saw two lions, for 

 there was another on the other side of the bush. I 

 now pulled in, and walked my horse towards the bush, 

 and when within sixty yards of it, a splendid old lion 

 with a fine mane jumped up and cantered into the 

 open, the other lying flat under the bush. The one 

 that jumped up only ran about twenty yards, and then 

 turning, stood broadside and looked at me. I was 

 already on the ground, and the next instant fired. 

 With a growl he acknowledged the shot, and again 

 made a few bounds forwards, then turning round, he 

 stood facing me, holding his head down between his 

 shoulders, growling hoarsely, and looking the very 

 picture of rage. He held his tail straight in the air, 

 and I made sure he was coming at me, for, not having 

 heard the bullet strike, I did not know whether I had 

 hit him. Glancing quickly to my left, I saw too that 

 the other lion was now lying with its head crouched 

 on its outstretched paws, eyeing me intently. Owing 

 to the condition of the ground there was no chance of 

 escape from a charge through the speed of the horse, 

 so pushing in another cartridge, I stood ready for the 

 worst. After a few growls, however, the black-maned 

 lion sank down, and then rolled over on his side, when 

 I knew that his spirit had fled, and all his power to 

 harm me gone. My bullet, as I afterwards found, 

 had passed through both his lungs high up, the very 

 best shot one can give a lion. 



I now turned my attention to the second lion. 

 As, owing to the grass, I could not see him clearly, I 

 mounted my horse and gave him a shot from the 

 saddle, as he lay half facing me, gazing towards me 

 with anything but a pleasant expression of countenance. 

 Whether he realised the misfortune which had befallen 

 his comrade or not I cannot say, but he certainly had 



2 £ 



