ROOSEVELT'S EXPERIENCE IN THE JUNGLE. 157 



ment at once, stopped dead and turned his head sharply towards 

 the huntsman. 



With an angry snarl he made one bound in the direction of the 

 American. He was so close that the dauntless hunter could almost 

 feel the beast's fetid breath in his face. 



But that bound was his last. 



One shot from the rifle of the former President laid him low. 

 The bullet caught him straight in the heart while he was at the 

 highest point of his leap and the great body of the tawny brute 

 crashed to earth to rise no more. 



Coolly adjusting his glasses the Colonel strode over to where 

 the giant form lay stretched. Then with a smile he turned to Selous : 



"That's a fine one, eh, Selous?" he said. 



"And magnificently shot, too," rejoined the Englishman with 

 a zest in which the native beaters joined. 



Another gazelle next fell prey to the Ex-President's unerring 

 aim, but he merely glanced at the carcass before he remarked : 



"I think I prefer lions for targets. Let's find another one." 



COLONEL ROOSEVELT GETS A THIRD LION. 



And find another one they did. The encounter was scarcely 

 less dramatic and dangerous than the other two, and once again 

 did the American's aim prove so true that but one bullet was neces- 

 sary to end its life. 



Once again did Col. Roosevelt prove his prowess, but this time, 

 instead of standing and letting the beast do the charging, Roosevelt 

 himself, his eyes snapping with surprised excitement, but other- 

 wise as cool as he had been on another memorable morning when 

 he led his troops in the face of the Spanish fire, advanced upon a 

 raging lion, angry at having been roused from its morning nap. 



One of the excited bearers fired first at the beast, but missed. 

 The terrified bearer then made a wild dash to get under Col. Roose- 

 velt's protection, but the lion was close upon him when the former 

 President rushed to meet him. 



He was almost too late! 



The animal was crouching for that last spring which, had it 



