CHAPTER XLIV. 



MR. CUMMING'S ENCOUNTER WITH FOUU LIONS. 



OUR old friend, Mr. Gumming, thus describes an encounter which 

 he had with four lions. Swint had just milked the cows, and was 

 driving them from the wooded peninsula in which we lay, athwart 

 the open ground, to graze with my other cattle in the forest beyond, 

 he beheld four majestic lions walking slowly across the vley, a few 

 hundred yards below my camp, and disappear over the river's bank, 

 at a favorite drinking-place. These mighty monarchs of the waste 

 had been holding a prolonged' repast over the carcases of some zebras 

 killed by Present, and had now come down the river to slake their 

 thirst. This being reported, I instantly saddled up two horses, and 

 directing my boys to lead after me as quickly as possible my small 

 remaining pack of sore-footed dogs, T rode ibrth, accompanied by 

 Cavey carrying a spare gun, to give battle to the four grim lions. 

 As I rode out of the peninsula, they showed themselves on the bank 

 of the river, and, guessing that their first move would be a disgraceful 

 retreat, I determined to ride so as to make them think that I had 

 not observed them, until I should be able to cut off their retreat from 

 the river, across the open vley, to the endless forest beyond. 



That point being gained, I knew that they, still doubtful of my 

 having observed them, would hold their ground on the river's bank, 

 until my dogs came up, when I could more advantageously make the 

 attack. I cantered along, as if I meant to pass the lions at a dis- 

 tance of a quarter of a mile, until I was opposite to them, when I 

 altered my course, and inclined a little nearer. The lions then 

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