LIONS. 163 



'Hendrick and Ruyter lay on one side of the fire 

 under one blanket, and John Stefolus on the other ; the 

 fire was very small, and the night was pitch dark and 

 windy. Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice of 

 an angry, bloodthirsty lion burst upon my ear within 

 a few yards of us, followed by the shrieking of the 

 Hottentots. Again and again the terrific roar of attack 

 was repeated. We heard John and Ruyter shriek, " The 

 lion ! the lion ! " Still for a few minutes all thought he 

 was only chasing one of the dogs round the kraal ; but 

 the next instant John Stefolus rushed into the midst of 

 us almost speechless with fear, his eyes bursting from 

 their sockets, and shrieked out, " The lion ! the lion ! he 

 lias got Hendrick ; he dragged him away from the fire ; 

 I struck him with the burning brand upon his head, but 

 he would not let go his hold. Hendrick is dead ! Let 

 us take fire and look for him ! " The rest of my people 

 rushed about, shrieking and yelling as if they were mad. 

 I was angry with them for their folly, and told them if 

 they did not stand still and keep quiet, the lion would 

 have another of us ; most likely there was a troop of 

 them. The dogs were let loose, and the fire increased. 

 Hendrick's name was shouted ; but all was then still. 

 I told the men he was dead, and had everything brought 

 within the cattle-fold, lighted a fire, and closed tho 

 entrance as well as we could. We sat with our guns in 

 our hands till daylight, expecting a lion every moment. 

 The dogs fought one another, then got scent of the lion, 

 and barked at him till day broke, he now and then 

 driving them back ; and he lay all the night within forty 

 yards of the party, having dragged the man into a littlo 

 hollow at the back of the bush. He had grappled him 

 with his claws, and bitten him in the breast and shoulder, 



