104 THE LION. 



pice overlooking the spot where he stood. Another 

 party occupied a position on the other side of the 

 glen ; and, placing the poor fellow thus between two 

 fires, which confused his attention, and prevented his 

 retreat, we kept battering at him, without truce or 

 mercy, till he fell, unable again to grapple with us, 

 covered with wounds and glory." 



Such is the usual way of destroying, rather than 

 hunting this mighty beast, where a host of men and 

 dogs can be collected ; and without some great in- 

 discretion on the part of the men, these encc inters 

 are generally attended with little danger. The 

 noise and worrying of the dogs, and shouts ot their 

 owners, distract the attention of the animal, until an 

 opportunity for shots occur, which soon terminates 

 the affair, the boors being very expert in the use of 

 the rifle. 



Some of the boors take a pride in shooting the 

 lion without assistance ; and in those remote settle- 

 ments this is often practised from necessity. These 

 men possess a steady coolness and presence of mind, 

 with a reckless intrepidity, which a knowledge of 

 the animal, and reliance upon themselves, could only 

 inspire. One man will set out to shoot a lion ; his 

 only weapons, the long belt knife which is constantly 

 worn, and his single barrelled rifle. His life is al- 

 most placed upon the excellency of the lock of his 

 gun, and, missing fire, or a very slight and unfore- 

 seen accident, places him in a situation from which 

 all his daring sometimes cannot extricate him. 



