182 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA 



tail stuck nut behind her, and slewed a little to one 

 side. I shouted loudly to her to halt, as I wished to 

 speak with her, upon which she suddenly pulled up, 

 and sat on her haunches like a dog, with her back to- 

 ward me, not even deigning to look round. She then 

 appeared to say to herself, " Does this fellow know who 

 he is after ?" Plaving thus sat for half a minute, as 

 if involved in thought, she sprang to her feet, and, 

 facing about, stood looking at me for a few seconds, 

 moving her tail slovdy from side to side, showing her 

 teeth, and growling fiercely. She next made a short 

 run forward, making a loud, rumbling noise like thun- 

 der. This she did to intimidate me ; but, finding that 

 I did not flinch an inch nor seem to heed her hostile 

 demonstrations, she quietly stretched out her massive 

 arms, and lay down on the grass. My Hottentots now 

 coming up, we all three dismounted, and, drawing our 

 rifles from their holsters, we looked to see if the pow- 

 der was up in the nipples, and put on our caps. While 

 this was doing the lioness sat up, and showed evident 

 symptoms of uneasiness. She looked first at us, and 

 then behind her, as if to see if the coast were clear , 

 after which she made a short run toward us, uttering 

 her deep-drawn, murderous growls. Having secured 

 the three horses to one another by their rheims, we led 

 them on as if we intended to pass her, in the hope of 

 obtaining a broadside. But this she carefully avoided 

 to expose, presenting only her full front. I had given 

 Stofolus my Moore rifle, with orders to shoot her if she 

 should spring upon me, but on no account to fire before 

 me. Klcinboy was to stand ready to hand me my Fur- 

 dey rifle, in case the two-grooved Dixon should not 

 prove sufficient. My men as yet had been steady, but 

 they were in a precious stew, their faces having as- 



