THE LION AND OTHER BEASTS OF PREY 



the wilds, when he came suddenly upon a lion, which, instead of 

 giving way, seemed disposed, from the angry attitude he assumed, to 

 dispute with him the dominion of the desert. Diederik instantly 

 alighted, and confident of his unerring aim leveled his gun at the 

 forehead of the lion, who was crouched in the act to spring, within 

 fifteen paces of him; but at the moment the hunter fired, his horse, 

 whose bridle was round his arm, started back and caused him to miss. 

 The lion bounded forward, but stopped within a few paces, confronting 

 Diederik who stood defenseless, his gun discharged, and his horse 



AMjS*a,CSCi/\/j 



THE LION IN PURSUIT 



running off. The man and the beast stood looking at each other in 

 the face for a short space. At length the lion moved backward as if 

 to go away. Diederik began to load his giui, the lion looked over 

 his shoulder, growled, and returned. Diederik stood still. The lion 

 again moved cautiously ofif, and the hunter continued to load and ram 

 down his bullet. The lion again looked back and growled angrily: 

 and this occurred repeatedly, until the animal had got ofif to some 

 distance when it took fairly to its heels and bounded away. 



Adventure with a Lion Cub. — A gentleman had obtained a 

 lion cub while quite young, and had carefully trained him as a pet, 



