ttoualegn (Bcoroe (Bor&on Gumming 275 



to her, upon which stu suddenly pulled up, and sat on 

 her haunches like a dog, with her back towards me, 

 not even deigning to look round. She appeared to 

 say to herself, ' Does this fellow know whom he is after?' 

 Having thus sat for half a minute, as if involved in 

 thought, she sprang to her feet, and facing about, stood 

 looking at me for a few seconds, moving her tail slowly 

 from side to side, showing her teeth and growling 

 fiercely. She next made a short fun forwards, making 

 a loud rumbling noise like thunder. This she did to 

 intimidate me ; but finding that I did not flinch an 

 inch, nor seem to heed her hostile demonstrations, she 

 quietly stretched out her massive arms, and lay down 

 on the grass. My Hottentots now coming up, we all 

 three dismounted. . . . While this was doing, the lioness 

 sat up and showed evident symptoms of uneasiness. 

 She looked first at us, and then behind her, as if to 

 see if the coast were clear ; after which she made a 

 short run towards us, uttering her deep-drawn, murderous 

 growls. Having secured the three horses to one another 

 by their reins we led them on as if we intended to pass 

 her, in the hope of obtaining a broadside ; but this she 

 carefully avoided to expose, presenting only her full 

 front. . . . My men as yet had been steady, but they 

 were in a precious stew, their faces having assumed a 

 ghastly paleness ; and I had a painful feeling that I 

 could place no reliance on them. 



Now then for it, neck or nothing! She is within 

 sixty yards of us, and keeps advancing. We turned 

 the horses' tails towards her. I knelt on one side, and 

 taking a steady aim at her breast, let fly. The ball 



