THE FELINE AND CANINE TRIBES. 495 



ring. The motionless state in which he persevered after this broad 

 hint, showed that he had learned to profit by the painful lesson. 



He now lay bleeding and disabled under the foot of a mighty and 

 an irritated enemy. Death was close upon him, armed with every 

 terror calculated to appal the heart of a prostrate and defenceless 

 man. Just as this world, with all its flitting honours, was on the point 

 of vanishing for ever, he heard two faint reports of a gun, which he 

 thought sounded from a distance ; but he was totally at a loss to 

 account for them. He learned after the affair was over, that the 

 reports were caused by his friend at the outside of the jungle, who had 

 flashed off some powder in order to be quite sure that the nipples of 

 his rifle were clean. 



The two lieutenants were now hastening to his assistance, and he 

 heard the welcome sound of feet approaching ; but, unfortunately, 

 they were in a wrong direction, as the lion was betwixt them and 

 him. Aware, that if his friends fired, the balls would hit him, after 

 they had passed through the lion's body, Captain Woodhouse quietly 

 pronounced, in a low and subdued tone, " To the other side ! to the 

 other side ! " Hearing the voice, they looked in the direction from 

 whence it proceeded, and to their horror saw their brave comrade in 

 his utmost need. Having made a circuit, they cautiously came up on 

 the other side, and Lieutenant Delamain, whose coolness in en- 

 counters with wild beasts had always been conspicuous, from a 

 distance of about a dozen yards, fired at the lion over the person of 

 the prostrate warrior. 



The lion merely quivered ; his head dropped upon the ground ; 

 and in an instant he lay dead on his side, close to his intended 

 victim. The lieutenant's aim was so good and true that it puts one 

 in mind of what happened at Chevy Chase 



"Against Sir Hugh Montgomery 



So right the shaft was set, 

 The gray goose wing that was thereon. 

 In his heart's blood was wet." 



Thus ended this ever-memorable homo-leonine encounter. I beg 

 to return my thanks to Captain Woodhouse for allowing me to avail 

 myself of it. From what has been related, a proof may be drawn of 



