184 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



Johunn took a steady shot, and rolled one lion over, close to the 

 dying giraffe ; the other looked round for a moment, and sprang 

 up the bank uj>on the opposite side of the river, but this, being 

 perpendicular, was too high to permit of a direct retreat ; a bullet 

 from the remaining barrel struck it through the back, and 

 paralysed the hind-quarters. The animal fell backwards upon the 

 sandy surface of the river, and rolled over helplessly, as the hind 

 legs had lost all power. This gave Johann time to reload, and, 

 seeing that the lion was completely at his mercy, he descended 

 into the river's bed and put a bullet through its head. 



The giraffe was still alive, therefore another ball was necessary 

 to complete its despatch ; and Johann remained in triumph, 

 having bagged two lions and a giraffe with a gun worth only 50 

 francs. 



I have heard so many tales of lions which have carried away 

 oxen from a kraal, that I have endeavoured to unravel what 

 appears to be a mysterious impossibility. An experienced friend 

 of mine was present when, during the night, a lion bounded over 

 the fence of thorns which formed a protection to the camp, and 

 seizing a full-grown bullock, it jumped the fence, carrying the 

 victim with it. 



In the confusion of a night attack the scare is stupendous, and 

 no jx?rson would be able to declare that he actually saw the lion 

 jump the fence with the bullock in its grip. It might appear to 

 do this, but the ox would struggle violently, and in this struggle 

 it would most probably burst through the fence, and subsequently 

 be dragged away by the lion, in a similar manner to the custom 

 already described of tigers. It is quite a mistake to suppose that 

 a lion can carry a full-grown ox; it will partially lift the fore- 

 quarters, and drag the carcase along the ground. 



Upon one occasion I was strolling through the forest on the 

 margin of the Settite river in Abyssinia, and I suddenly met a 

 large bull buffalo which was exactly facing me, having probably 

 obtained my wind beforehand. It was not more than 20 yards 

 distant, and it threw up its wicked head with the nose pointed 

 directly at me, in the well-known fashion which makes a shot at 

 the forehead utterly impossible. Knowing that my double- 

 barrelled No. 10 with 7 drams of powder would have sufficient 

 penetration, I aimed exactly at the nostril, then fully dilated by 

 the excitement of the animal, and fired. The shot was instantly 

 fatal, as the hard bullet of quicksilver and lead not only passed 

 through the brain, having entered at the nose, but it penetrated 

 far into the neck and cavity of the chest. This was a very large 



