AUDACITY OF LIONS. 97 



a hyaena or a jackal was about to pay me a visit, I sat up iu 

 my bed, and seizing my gun, which I invariably kept within 

 reach, I prepared to give the intruder a warm reception. 

 Imagine my surprise, however, when, instead of one or other 

 "of these skulking animals, a stately lion stood suddenly be- 

 fore me ! In an instant my gun was pointed at his breast ; 

 but, hoping he would presently turn his broadside toward me, 

 which would have given me a much better chance of destroy- 

 ing him, I refrained from firing. In this expectation, how- 

 ever, I was disappointed ; for, on perceiving the wagons, he 

 retreated a step or two, and uttering a low growl, vanished 

 the next moment among the bushes. 



There is something so grand and imposing in the appear- 

 ance of the king of beasts in his native wilds, more especial- 

 ly when he assumes an attitude of surprise or defiance, that 

 it is impossible not to feel more or less awed in his presence. 



On mentioning to Mr. Rath, the following morning, my ad- 

 venture of the preceding night, he expressed no kind of sur- 

 prise, for the tamarisk grove in question was often known, 

 he said, to harbor lions and other beasts of prey. He added, 

 moreover, that lions not unfrequently penetrated thence into 

 his garden, and even approached within a few paces of the 

 dwelling-house itself. 



Returning somewhat late one very dark night from Mr. 

 Rath's house to our encampment, I was suddenly startled by 

 sounds of the most painful description, not unlike the stifled 

 groanings of a person who is on the point of drowning. It 

 at once struck me that the lions had surprised some unfor- 

 tunate native while lying in ambush near the water for wild 

 animals that came there to drink. While listening in anxious 

 suspense to the wailings in question — which gradually be- 

 came more and more faint — there reached me from another 

 quarter a confused sound of human voices and of hurried 

 footsteps. This only tended to confirm my first impression; 

 but, from the impenetrable darkness, I could not ascertain 



