HUNTING LIONS. 401 



af the mountain, we found ourselves enveloped in dense a jungle, 

 which extended half way to its summit, and entirely obscured from 

 our eyes objects which were quite apparent from the wagons. I 

 slipped my dogs, however, which, after snuffing about, took righ 

 up the steep face on the spoor of the lions, for there was a troop of 

 them a lion and four lionesses. 



The people at the wagons saw the chase in perfection. When 

 the lions observed the dogs coming on, they took right up, and three 

 of them crossed over the sky ridge. The dogs, however, turned one 

 old rattling lioness, which came rumbling down through the cover, 

 close past me. I ran to meet her, and she came to bay in an open spot 

 near the base of the mountain, whither I quickly followed; and 

 coming up within thirty yards, bowled her over with my first shot, 

 which broke her back. My second entered her shoulder ; and fear- 

 ing that she might hurt any of the dogs, as she still evinced signs 

 of life, I finished her with a third in the breast. The bellies of all 

 the four lions were much distended by some game they had been 

 gorging, no doubt a buffalo, as a large herd started out of the jungle 

 immediately under the spot where the noble beasts were first 

 disturbed. 



96 



