LION HUNTING. 285 



a long, well-wooded basin in the mountains. I observed 

 that two lions, having detected the blood, were spoor- 

 ing up the borele ; they had followed him up and driv- 

 en him away from his lair, and had then lain down for 

 the day. 



When 1 came up I was within twenty yards of the 

 lions before I was aware of their proximity. Observ- 

 ing me, they sprang to their feet, and, growling sulk- 

 ily, trotted up the mountain side. I only saw one of 

 them at first, and ran forward for a shot. Having as- 

 cended the steep a short distance, the lion halted to have 

 a look, giving me a fine broadside, when I shot him 

 through the heart. On receiving the ball he bounded 

 forward, and was instantly obscured by the trees. I 

 advanced cautiously, and next moment the other lion 

 sprang up with a growl, and marched with an air of 

 most consummate independence up the mountain side. 

 I imagined that this lion was the one I had fired at, 

 and sent two more shots at him, both of which were 

 too high ; after which he disappeared over a ridge im- 

 mediately above. On proceeding to inspect the spot 

 where the lion had been lying, I found that there were 

 two beds, consequently that there must have been two 

 lions, and I conjectured that I had killed one of them. 

 In case, however, he should be only wounded, I deemed 

 it prudent to ride down to the wagons, which were then 

 passing below me, to obtain some dogs to pioneer. Hav- 

 ing procured these, I and Ruyter returned to the spot, 

 and found the lion lying dead on the mountain side. 

 We proceeded to skin him, and returned to the wag- 

 ons with the spoils. The other decamped ; the dogs 

 could not find him. Both of ihese were first-rate old 

 lions, but the one that escaped was the larger of the 

 two. In the afternoon I rode on to Sichelv';^ kraal on 



