78 GERARD, THE LION HUNTER 



from the lion. The clearing might he forty-five paces 

 round, consequently fifteen paces across. 



I was alone, and had to choose my place. I took up 

 a position at the very edge of the wood, so that the goat 

 was between the lion and me — the goat was seven or 

 eight paces from me, the lion about sixty. 



Whilst I had been making my little inspection the 

 lion had disappeared ; there was evidently no time to be 

 lost in preparing to receive him, as he might fall upon me 

 at any moment. An oak tree offered the support I always 

 look for on these occasions. I cut off the small boughs 

 which might have hindered my movements, and sat down 

 with my back against the trunk. I was hardly seated 

 before the signs of agitation shown by the goat told me 

 plainly that something was going on close to us. The 

 goat dragged at his cord with all his might towards me, 

 but kept his eyes fixed on the opposite side. 



I understood that the lion had taken a roundabout 

 path to reach us, and was now approaching, following, 

 as he did so, the fold of the ravine. 



I was not mistaken. At the end of ten minutes I saw 

 his huge head appear at the top of the ravine which had 

 at first divided us, then his shoulders, and then his whole 

 body. He walked slowly, not yet fully awake, and with 

 his eyes half closed, for the lion is a great sleeper and very 

 lazy. 



Having reached the top he found himself about seven 

 paces from the goat and fifteen from me. I remained 

 settled where I was, and took aim at him right between the 

 eyes. For a moment I felt tempted to pull the trigger, but 

 the fascination of watching the superb creature and noting 

 the movements and ways of my formidable antagonist 

 kept me motionless. For some moments I enjoyed such 

 an interview as few men can boast of. I felt I deserved 

 it, for it was two years since I had been actually face to 

 face with a lion, and this was one of the finest and largest 

 I had ever seen. At the end of a few minutes he 



