IRoualegn (Bcorcic Gordon Cummino 277 



" Ruyter came towards me, and I ran forward to 

 obtain a view beyond a slight rise in the ground, to 

 see whither the lioness had gone. In so doing I came 

 suddenly upon two of them, within about seventy yards : 

 they were standing looking back at Ruyter. I tl 

 very rashly commenced making a rapid stalk in upon 

 them, and fired at the nearest, having only one shot 

 in my rifle. The ball told loudly ; and the lioness at 

 which I had fired wheeled right round, and came on, 

 lashing her tail, showing her teeth, and making that 

 horrid murderous deep growl which an angry lion 

 generally utters. At the same moment her comrade, 

 who seemed better to know that she was in the presence 

 of man, made a hasty retreat into the reeds. The 

 instant the lioness came on, I stood up to my full 

 height, holding my rifle and my arms extended, and 

 high above my head. This checked her in her course ; 

 but on looking round and missing her comrade, and 

 observing Ruyter slowly advancing, she was still more 

 exasperated ; and, fancying that she was being sur- 

 rounded, she made another forward movement, growling 

 terribly. This was a moment of great danger. I felt 

 that my only chance of safety was extreme steadiness ; 

 so standing motionless on a rock, with my eyes firmly 

 fixed upon her, I called out in a clear, commanding 

 voice, ' Holloa, old girl, what's the hurry ? take it easy ; 

 holloa ! holloa ! ' She instantly once more halted, and 

 seemed perplexed, looking round for her comrade. I 

 then thought it prudent to beat a retreat, which I 

 very slowly did, talking to the lioness all the time 

 She seemed undecided as to her future movements, 



