58 SOUTH AFRICA. 



little gun through my belt at the back, and, 

 creeping stealthily, soon reached the big round 

 top of the stone, and, peering over, saw the lioness 

 close under me, on her belly, in form for a spring, 

 and with her head well up, evidently in a mood 

 to resent any further molestation. Her youngsters 

 were pottering about, no doubt staring with great 

 yellow eyes in the same direction as their dam, 

 but, like her, evidently unaware of my position. 

 It goes without saying that I took every possible 

 care to get my gun into firing position without 

 disturbing the trio, and then immediately let drive 

 at the lioness, aiming between the shoulders. 

 The combined charge of shot and ball rolled her 

 over at once, and not only smashed the backbone, 

 but made a terrible mess of the contents of her 

 chest. By this time, and before quitting my 

 position of vantage, my companion and some of 

 the " boys," having heard the row at the waggon, 

 were coming up, after arming themselves, some 

 with guns, and others with assegais ; so the cubs 

 were soon caught at the expense of a few bites and 

 scratches, and, together with the skin of the slain, 

 carried into camp. 



These cubs were male and female, and became 



