HUNTING LIONS. 405 



lay concealed in another hole, with Wolf and Boxer ready to slip, 

 in the event of wounding a lion. 



On reaching the water I looked towards the carcass of the rhino- 

 ceros, and, to my astonishment, I beheld the ground alive with 

 large creatures, as though a troop of zebras were approaching the 

 fountain to drink. Kleinboy remarked to me that a troop of zebraa 

 Were standing on the height. I answered, " Yes ;" but I knew very 

 well that zebras would not be capering around the carcass of a rhj 

 noceros. I quickly arranged my blankets, pillow, and guns in t> j 

 hole, and then. lay down to feast my eyes on the interesting sight 

 before me. It was bright moonlight, as clear as I need wish, and 

 within one night of being full moon. There were six laqje lions, 

 about twelve or fifteen hyaenas, and from twenty to thirty jackals, 

 feasting on and around the carcasses of the three rhinoceroses. The 

 lions feasted peacefully, but the hyaenas and jackals fought ovf 1 

 every mouthful, and chased one another round and round the car- 

 casses, growling, laughing, screeching, chattering, and howling with- 

 out intermission The hyaenas did not seem afraid of the lions, 

 although they always gave way before them ; for I observed that they 

 followed them in the most disrespectful manner, and stood laughing, 

 one or two on either side, when any lions came after their comrades 

 to examine pieces of skin or bones which they were dragging away. 

 I had lain watching this banquet for about three hours, in the strong 

 hope that, when the lions had feasted, they would come and drink. 

 Two black and two white rhinoceroses had made their appearance, 

 but, scared by the smell of the blood, they had made off. 



At length the lions seemed satisfied. They all walked about with 

 their heads up, and seemed to be thinking about the water ; and in 

 two minutes one of them turne JL his face towards me, and came on j 

 he was immediately followed by a second lion, and in half a minute 

 by the remaining four. It was a decided and general move, they 

 were all coming to drink right bang in my face, within fifteen yarda 

 of me. 



I charged the unfortunate, pale, and panting Kleinboy' to convert 

 himself into a stone, and knowing, from old spoor, exactly where 

 they would drink, I cocked my left barrel, and placed myself and 



