THE LION. 47 



moved backward as if to go away. Diederik began to load 

 his gun, the lion looked over his shoulder, growled, and 

 returned. Diederik stood still. The lion again moved cau- 

 tiously off, and the Boer proceeded to load and ram down 

 his bullet. The lion again looked back and growled angrily; 

 and this occurred repeatedly, until the animal had got off 

 to some distance when he took fairly to his heels and 

 bounded away." 



The strength Whatever may be said of the lion's courage, 

 of the there can be no doubt as to his strength. Burchell 

 Lion, thus describes an encounter with a lion. "The 

 day was exceedingly pleasant and not a cloud was to be seen. 

 For a mile or two we travelled along the banks of the river, 

 which in this part abounded in late mat-rushes. The dogs 

 seemed much to enjoy prowling about and examining every 

 rushy place, and at last met with some object among the 

 rushes which caused them to set up a most vehement and 

 determined barking. We explored the spot with caution as 

 we suspected, from the peculiar tone of the bark, that it was 

 what it proved to be lions. Having encouraged the dogs to 

 drive them out, a task which they performed with great 

 willingness, we had a full view of an enormous black-maned 

 lion and lioness. The latter was seen only for a minute, as 

 she made her escape up the river under concealment of the 

 rushes; but the lion came steadily forward, and stood still 

 and looked at us. At this moment we felt our situation not 

 free from danger, as the animal seemed preparing to spring 

 upon us, and we were standing on the bank, at a distance 

 of only a few yards from him, most of us being on foot, 

 and unarmed, without any visible possibility of escaping. At 

 this instant the dogs boldly flew in between us and the lion, 

 and surrounding him, kept him at bay by their violent and 

 resolute barking. The lion, conscious of his strength, remained 

 unmoved at their noisy attempts and kept his head turned 

 towards us. At one moment, the dogs perceiving his eye 



