160 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



the saddle, for wliich, he added, the lion could not 

 possibly have any use, raised his spleen, and called 

 down a shower of abuse whenever he related the story.' 



'We had,' says Mr. Pringle, 'been to tea with 

 Captain Cameron's family, to whom, as we were only 

 three miles distant, we considered ourselves next door 

 neighbours ; and as the weather was fine, we rode 

 home by moonlight, jesting all the way about wild 

 beasts and Caffres, and not at all suspecting that a lion 

 was dogging us through the bushes all the way home. 



' About midnight I was awakened by an unusual 

 noise in the cattle-fold, and looking out, saw all our 

 horned cattle spring over the high thorn fence, and 

 scamper round the place. Fancying that a hya3na, 

 which I had heard howling when I went to bed, had 

 alarmed the animals, I sallied forth to have a shot at it. 

 I, however, could not find any cause for the disturbance, 

 and calling a Hottentot to drive back the cattle and 

 shut them in, I again went to bed. The next morning 

 Captain Cameron rode over to say his herdsman had 

 discovered that a large lion had followed us up tli3 

 valley, and then on further inspection we found he had 

 visited the fold and carried off a sheep. He appeared 

 to have retreated to the mountains, and we did not 

 pursue him. 



4 The lion, however, was not disposed to let us off so 

 easily. He returned that night, and killed my favourite 

 riding-horse, a little more than a hundred yards from 

 my door. I then considered it right to take measures 

 for defence, and called forth a party for his pursuit ; 

 the Hottentots saying that as he had only eaten a 

 small part of the horse, he would be in the vicinity. 

 Seventeen horsemen, mulattoes and Hottentots, and 

 a number of strong hounds, soon assembled. 



