ADVENTURE WITH A MONSTER LION. 'J81 



thirsty lion burst upon my ear within a few yards of us, followed 

 by the shrieking of the Hottentots. Again and again the mur- 

 derous roar of attack was repeated. We heard John and Ruyter 

 shriek ' The ho ! the lion !" still, for -a few moments, we thought 

 he was but chasing one of the dogs round the kraal ; but, next 

 instant, John Stofolus rushed into the midst of us almost speech- 

 less with fear and terror, his eyes bursting from their sockets, and 

 shrieked out, "The lion! the lion! He has got Hendric ; he 

 dragged him away from the fire beside me. I struck him 

 with the burning brands upon his head, but he would not let go 

 his hold. Hendric is dead ! Oh God ! Hendric is dead ! Let 

 us take fire and seek him !" The rest of my people rushed about, 

 shrieking and yelling as if they were mad. I was at once angry 

 with the.m for their folly, and told them that if they did not stand 

 still and keep quiet, the lion would have another of us ; and that 

 very likely there was a troop of them. I ordered the dogs, which 

 were nearly all fast, to be made loose, and the fire to be. increased 

 as far as could be. I then shouted Fiend ric's name, but all was 

 still. I told my men that Hendric was dead, and that a regiment of 

 soldiers could not now help him, and, hunting my dogs forward, 

 I had every thing brought within the cattle-kraal, when we lighted 

 oui fire and closed the entrance as well as we could. 



My terrified people sat round the fire with guns in their hands 

 till the day broke, still fancying that every moment the lion would 

 return and spring again into the midst of us. When the dogs were 

 first let go, the stupid brutes, as dogs often prove when most re- 

 quired, instead of going at the lion, rushed fiercely on one another, 

 and fought desperately for some minutes. After this they got his 

 wind, and, going at him, disclosed to us his position : they kept up a 

 continual barking until the day dawned, the lion occasionally spring 

 ing after them and driving them in upon the kraal. The hor 

 rible monster lay all night within forty yards of us, consuming the 

 wretched man whom he had chosen for his prey. He had dragged 

 him into a little hollow at the back of the thick bush beside which 

 the fire was kindled, and there he remained till the day dawned, 

 careless of our proximity. 



