THE LION. 105 



In these excursions a knowledge of the habits ol^ 

 the animal renders the hoors often successful, and the 

 following method is practised. When the lion is 

 found and roused, he is allowed to approach, and 

 hefore making the spring or bound, it js the practice 

 always to couch, and to aim, as it were, at the ob- 

 ject. Now is the time when the dexterity and cool- 

 ness of the boors is put to the test ; the animal is 

 within twenty yards, the rifle is slowly raised, and 

 deliberate aim is taken at the forehead. The aim is 

 generally correct, and the bullet fatal ; if the reverse, 

 ! the bound is instantaneous, the situation of the hunts- 

 man most perilous, but even here his coolness does 

 not forsake him. 



" Diederik Muller, one of the most intrepid and 

 successful modern lion-hunters in South Africa, had 

 jeen out alone hunting in the wilds, when he came 

 suddenly upon a lion, which, instead of giving way, 

 seemed disposed, from the angry attitude he assumed, 

 to dispute with him the dominion of the desert. 

 Diederik instantly alighted, and, confident of his un- 

 erring aim, levelled his mighty roer at the forehead 

 of the lion, who was couched in the act to spring, 

 within fifteen paces of him ; but at the moment the 

 imnter fired, his horse, whose bridle was round his 

 arm, started back, and caused him to miss. The 

 lion bounded forward, but stopped within a few 

 paces, confronting Diederick, who stood defenceless, 

 his gun discharged, and his horse running off. The 

 man and the beast stood looking each other in the 



