A FIGHT WITH FIVE LIONS 295 



the oxen, so that they did not catch it. Sud- 

 denly, however, one of the lionesses crouched 

 low and began to creep toward the team in 

 true catlike fashion, and an instant later a 

 second one followed her example. I then real- 

 ised that they meant trouble, but I had no time 

 to reflect, for at that moment one of the oxen 

 stopped short, threw up his head, and sniffed 

 the air; then, getting the scent, they both broke 

 into an awkward, swinging shuffle for the 

 kraal. 



"Over the rough, uneven ground we tore 

 bumpety-bump. I clung to the stones to keep 

 from being thrown off and tightly gripped the 

 big bull-whip, my only weapon of defence. 

 There was no use in trying to guide or control 

 the oxen; in fact, I had no idea of doing so, 

 even if I could, for under the circumstances they 

 could not get back to the kraal any too soon to 

 suit me, even if they did run away. All that I 

 could do was to cling to the stone-boat and await 

 the lions' attack. 



"It was a short race. Those who have seen a 

 lion capture its prey know too well what little 

 chance there would be for a runaway team of 

 oxen hitched to a loaded stone-boat. 



