THE LION— KING OF BEASTS 



that I have ever witnessed ! As soon as the three Hons saw 

 the horse, they all ran off in different directions, Asgar 

 following the big black-maned one, and evidently gaining 

 on him with every second. My gun bearers and I fol- 

 lowed on the run, as fast as we could possibly go. When 

 Asgar came within about fifty yards of the lion, it sud- 

 denly stopped, viewed him for a few seconds, and then 

 turned with a roar and rushed at him. Asgar instantly 

 whirled his horse around, and galloped off toward us, with 

 the lion close behind him. After a few leaps the lion saw 

 that it was impossible to catch the horse, so it gave up 

 the chase and turned around to run away. At the very 

 same moment Asgar also turned and galloped after the 

 lion, and these scenes were repeated again and again, until 

 finally the lion was completely tired out, and was brought 

 to bay near a half-dried-out stream. 



" As we approached the place, Asgar pointed toward 

 the lion with his whip, but I could only hear loud grunting 

 from the other side of the little stream. Against the advice 

 of my gun bearers, but bound on getting the lion at any 

 cost, I crossed the river bed through the dense bush, to be 

 faced the next second, to my unspeakable joy, by this mag- 

 nificent * king of beasts,' which showed its beautiful head 

 above a little bush, only some thirty yards away from where 

 I emerged from the stream. As it caught sight of me, 

 it advanced up into the bush, exposing entirely its head 

 and shoulders. Here it stood, majestically, switching its 

 tail and giving a tremendous roar as a warning signal 

 for me not to come any nearer. 



"Just one look around assured me that my camera 

 bearer had unfortunately again failed to follow me closely 



37 



