CHAP. V. LIONS. 283 



the dim light of a third-quarter moon could just make 

 out the outlines of two lions, about twenty yards off, and, 

 taking a steady aim — he only had a single barrel — he 

 fired at the nearest, which made a bound upwards and 

 fell dead. The other took no notice, and after a minute 

 resumed its meal, upon which he quietly loaded and shot 

 it dead upon the spot. It showed great pluck, for alone 

 in the dark with two Hons, and only one shot to trust to, 

 is anything but a pleasant position. Sometimes I have 

 heard the most extraordinary concerts going on round 

 game the Hons were feeding on, hyenas and jackals 

 keeping up a continual round of howling, squealing, and 

 laughing, which, being interpreted, meant, I suppose, 

 that they were very hungry and wished the lions would 

 clear out and let them begin. It is by no means unusual 

 to find a hyena or jackal lying dead, punished on the spot 

 for daring to approach too near the bigger robber's supper, 

 and I have often seen the spoor of where a lion had 

 chased hyenas several hundred yards away from his 

 prey. 



Sometimes, when attracted by meat, they will come 

 and roar all night within a few yards of the camp, and I 

 have often had sleepless nights from serenades of this 

 description ; cases have also occurred when the smell of 

 the meat has been irresistible, and they have forced their 

 way to it. I remember one man, a European, who had 

 to spend the night in a tree watching a male who had 

 sprung into the camp and seized a piece of meat, kindly 

 taking no notice of the terrified scramble he caused, and 

 who, after roaring a little, was joined by two Honesses, 

 the three proceeding to eat all the buffalo-meat in stock. 



