THE LION. 91 



close to his feet, and seemed as if they would ac- 

 tually seize hold of him ; but they paid dearly for their 

 imprudence, for, without discomposing the majestic 

 and steady attitude in which he stood fixed, he 

 merely moved his paw, and, at the next instant, I 

 beheld two lying dead. In doing this, he made so 

 little exertion, that it was scarcely perceptible by 

 what means they had been killed. Of the time 

 which we gained by the interference of the dogs, not 

 a moment was lost : we fired upon him ; one of the 

 balls went through his side, just between the short 

 ribs, and the blood began to flow, but the animal 

 still remained standing in the same position. We 

 had now no doubt that he would spring upon us : 

 every gun was instantly reloaded ; but happily we 

 were mistaken, and were not sorry to see him move 

 quietly away, though I had hoped in a few minutes 

 to have been enabled to take hold of his paw with- 

 out danger." 



The appearance of the lion, when unannoyed, or 

 in confinement, where he is generally very tame, 

 does not convey to us that idea of ferocity which 

 generally associates itself with the greater number of 

 the feline race. His ample front, and overhanging 

 brows, surrounded with a long and shaggy mane, 

 remind us of something more majestic than fero- 

 city ; but the gleam from his eye on the slightest 

 motion of the bystander, the expression of his coun- 

 tenance, and erection of his mane upon provoca- 

 tion, shew that he will not be trifled with, and are 



