350 A NIMROD A lion's SUPPER. 



had shared many a hunting exploit with his friend Hans, and 

 had made numerous hons bite the dust. 



On one occasion, Jonathan was riding leisurely along, when 

 suddenly, a short distance in advance of him, a fine lion rush- 

 ed out of the bushes. Throwing himself quickly oiF the ox, 

 he gave chase to the beast, calling out loudly, "Nay, stop 

 a little. To-day we must, indeed, talk with each other." 

 Whether the lion thought he could not escape, or that he 

 considered his dignity concerned, I shall not presume to say ; 

 but, at all events, he stopped to look at his pursuer. No 

 sooner, however, had he turned his head, than a well-directed 

 ball entered one of his eyes, and laid him low in an instant. 



After waiting at Rehoboth for about a week, I had the 

 satisfaction to see my men and wagon arrive in safety. The 

 cause of the delay had been the nature of the road, the great- 

 er part of which consisted of a succession of sand-ridges, as 

 bad as those at Scheppmansdorf The oxen were good, and 

 more than sufficient to do the work ; but, from want of yokes, 

 they could only make use of twelve at a time. 



The men had also been much plagued by lions. One fine 

 moonlight night, just as they had unyoked at the base of a 

 small sand-hill, one of these animals appeared immediately 

 above. After having eyed them for a moment, he dashed in 

 among the goats, and, before the men could get their guns in 

 order, he was out of harm's way with one of the quadrupeds. 



At another time, a lion made a rush at the cattle when at 

 pasture, who fled precipitately into a defile, where, not find- 

 ing an outlet, they faced about and confronted their fierce an- 

 tagonist. The beast evidently dreaded the forest of bristling 

 horns ; for, after having paced to and fro at the entrance of 

 the pass the best part of the night, keeping cattle and men in 

 great tribulation by his savage growls, he slunk off toward 

 morning. 



