CHAP. V. LIONS. 229 



for I was afraid of his charging, and it was kicky I did so, 

 for I barely had time to chmb up before he reached the 

 spot, roaring terrifically ; though when he saw that I was 

 out of reach he turned back to his bush, and I then came 

 down, and walking out as far as I dared, took a quick 

 aim from my knees and pulled the trigger, but the gun 

 missed fire. As soon almost as he saw me kneeling he 

 charged again, and I had to run back to the shelter of the 

 tree until he returned to his old position, growling hor- 

 ribly. 



" Mahlatine now came up, having heard my firing, but 

 when he saw that it was a lion, he climbed to the top of 

 the tree, and would neither come down nor give me his 

 gun, so I walked out and tried mine again, but with a 

 like result, both as regards the gun and the lion. As I 

 was making for the tree a thought struck me, and as I 

 got under it I shouted to Mahlatine, ' Shove down the 

 stock of your gun to help me up, I shall be caught,' and 

 as he lowered it, I loosed it from his hand with a sudden 

 wrench, and turned to look for the lion. He had not 

 come far out this time, disgusted with his former ineffec- 

 tual attempts to overtake me, and was already limping 

 back, so, resting the gun on a lower branch, I fired and 

 struck him, making him roar with pain and rage, and, 

 when he saw the smoke, charge towards it. I saw that 

 he was too much maimed to catch me, and stood where I 

 was, with the second barrel ready when the time came, 

 and at thirty yards off I shot him in the chest and rolled 

 him over, only sufficient life remaining for a few mighty 

 struggles before he breathed his last." 



Dismissing Atozake with the commendation that his 



