xvi THE LION 211 



out of a temporary hospital built near a construction 

 camp, close to the railway. In order to protect the 

 hospital a strong boma was built around it, and two 

 Englishmen decided to watch for the lion from the 

 interior of a railway transport van. To enable them 

 to watch the hospital they had the upper half of the 

 door of the wagon open ; the lower half was closed for 

 their own protection. In due course they saw the lion 

 spring over the boma into the hospital compound ; but 

 all the doors and windows had been secured. The two 

 men watched closely with the hope of seeing the lion 

 return from the boma and had their faces level with 

 the top of the half door of the van, when they were 

 suddenly startled by feeling the lion's breath in their 

 faces : the brute had attempted to seize them over the 

 top of the half door. ' He failed because he was unable 

 to obtain a secure grip on the narrow metal edge of 

 the doors. In the morning the marks of the lion's 

 claws were obvious on the painted door. 



In contrast with a grim tale of this kind there are 

 many like the following : 



Lady Delamere was returning to her home after a 

 dance : the native boy preceded her with a lamp. 

 Suddenly a dark form rose between her and the 

 lamp-boy with a savage growl and quickly disappeared. 

 It was a lion. 



It is well known to surgeons who have had the care of 

 patients badly mauled with lions or leopards that the 

 wounds do not heal kindly. This is easily understood, 

 for such wounds are made by septic teeth and claws that 

 have been tearing animal tissues. Not only are the 

 wounds slow in healing on account of the profuse sup- 

 puration, the sequel of the septic poisoning, but even 

 when healed Dr. F. L. Henderson, who has had charge 

 of several hunters who had been mauled, tells me that 

 the scars are often persistently painful. 



That scratches inflicted by feline animals are septic 

 admits of ready demonstration. Terriers are very fond 



P 2 



