UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 13 



gestecl, however, that as he was to die, it would 

 be a good opportunity of putting to the test the 

 bravery and vigour of a horse whose spirits had 

 not been subdued by being domesticated ; and 

 the king readily consented that he should be 

 turned loose into a well-secured arena, along 

 with a ferocious lion that belonged to the 

 royal menagerie. Arrangements were soon 

 made ; and both these animals were allowed to 

 enter at the .same moment through opposite 

 doors. They approached a few steps then 

 stopped as if to take a survey of each other 

 and again they advanced, but very slowly, till 

 almost close. There was now a pause for a mo- 

 ment, after which the lion stooped a little as if 

 meditating an upward spring, in order to fix his 

 dreadful claws in the neck of his adversary; but 

 the horse seized the opportunity, and making a 

 slight but deliberate plunge with one leg in ad- 

 vance, he struck the lion on the head, and with 

 such fatal force as to lay him dead at his feet." 



" The remarkable pause," said Mr. Lumley, 

 " which was made by those two noble creatures 

 is, I believe, the practice of all combative ani- 

 mals when going to make their onset. I cannot 

 give you better authority than that of our highly 

 valued friend, Major R., who you know was not 

 less remarkable in India for his scientific know- 

 ledge and military talent, than for his intrepidity. 

 In the course of service he had frequently been 



c 



