HUNTING A LION. 22? 



minutes, and most cf them having slaked their thirst, I sent a 

 ball through the heart of the best headed pallah. I then took a 

 long shot at the blue wildebeest bull, and sent the other ball iiito 

 his shoulder. I no\v came to the camp, and ordered the pallah 

 to be placed in front of my hole beside the water, to attract the 

 lions. Having taken my coffee, I returned to the water with 

 Kleinboy and Mollyee. It was bright moonlight. We had 

 scarcely lain down, when the terrible voice of a lion was heard 

 a little to the east; the jackals were feasting over the remains of 

 the white rhinoceros of yesterday, and only one or two occasionally 

 came and snuffed at the pallah. Presently a herd of zebras, 

 accompanied by elands, approached the water, but were too timid 

 to come in and drink : a troop of wild dogs now came boldly up, 

 and were walking off with the pallah, when I fired into them. 

 They made off, but immediately returning and again seizing my 

 pallah, I fired again, and wounded one of them. 



Soon after we had lain down a thundering clattering of hoofs 

 was heard coming up the vley, and on came an immense herd of 

 wildebeest. They were very thirsty, and the leading cow very 

 soon came boldly up and drank before me. I sent a ball through 

 her ; she ran sixty yards up the slope behind me, and fell dead. 

 Her comrades then thundered across the vley, and took up a 

 position on the opposite rising ground. In two minutes the 

 hyasnas and jackals had attacked the carcass of this wildebeest. 

 Soon after this a lion gave a most appalling roar on the bushy 

 height close opposite to us, which was succeeded by a death-like 

 stillness which lasted for nearly a minute. I had then only one 

 shot in my four barrels, and I hastily loaded the other barrel of 

 my Westley Richards, and with breathless attention kept the 

 strictest watch in front, expecting every moment to see the mighty 

 and terrible king of beasts approaching; but he was too cunning 

 He saw all the other game fight shy of the water, so he made a 

 circuit to leeward to get the wind off the fountain. Soon after he 

 roarod I heard a number of jackals bothering him, as if telling 

 him .0 come across the vley to the wildebeest : he growled from 

 fide to side, as if playing with them, and after this all was still. 



