THE LION AND OTHER BEASTS OF PREY 227 



the two unfortunate steeds, roaring terribly. I felt rather alarmed for 

 their safety; but, trusting that the lion had had flesh enough for one 

 night, I lay still, and listened with an attentive ear. In a few minutes, 

 to my utter horror, I heard him spring upon one of the steeds with an 

 angry growl, and dash him to the earth ; the steed gave a slight groan, 

 and all was still. I listened to hear the sound of teeth, but all continued 

 still. Soon after this 'Tao,' was once more heard to be munching the 

 buffalo. In a few minutes he came forward, and stood on the bank 

 close above us, and roared most terribly, walking up and dowai, as if 

 meditating some mischief. I now thought it high time to make a fire, 

 and, quickly collecting some dry reeds and little sticks, in half a minute 

 we had a cheerful blaze. The lion, which had not yet got our wind, 

 came forward at once to find out what the deuce was up; but, not 

 seeing to his entire satisfaction from the top of the bank he was pro- 

 ceeding to descend by a game-path into the river-bed within a few 

 yards of us. I happened at the very moment to go to this spot to fetch 

 more w^ood, and, being entirely concealed from the lion's view above 

 by the intervening high reeds, we actually met face to face ! The first 

 notice I got was his sudden spring to one side, accompanied by repeated 

 angry growls, while I involuntarily made a convulsive spring back- 

 ward, at the same time giving a fearful shriek, such as I never before 

 remember uttering. I fancied, just as he growled, he was coming 

 upon me. We now heaped on more wood, and kept up a very strong 

 fire until the day dawned, the lions feasting beside us all the time, 

 notwithstanding the remonstrances of the little native, who, with a 

 true Bechuana spirit, lamenting the loss of so much good flesh, kept 

 continually shouting and pelting them with flaming brands. 



*'The next morning, w^hen it was clear, I arose and inspected the 

 buffaloes. The three that had fallen were fine old cows, and two of 

 them were partly consumed by the lions. The ground all around w^as 

 packed flat with their spoor ; one particular spoor was nearly as larp;e 

 as that of a borele. I then proceeded to inspect the steeds; the sand 

 around them w'as also covered with the lion's spoor. He had sprung 

 upon 'the Old Gray but had done him no further injury than scratching 

 his back through the skin : perhaps the lion had been scared by the 

 rheims, or on discovering his spare condition, had preferred the 

 buffalo." 



