278 iRings of tfoe 1Rofc, fRifle, an& Gun 



and was gazing after me, and snuffing the ground when 

 I last beheld her ! " 



Such is the man's version of the incident. One would 

 like to know what the lioness's version was when she 

 told the story, as she doubtless did, to her leonine lord 

 in the evening. 



Gordon Cumming's favourite method of shooting was 

 to dig a hole near some pool or fountain, and wait 

 ensconced there till the beasts came down to drink. 

 On one occasion he had rather a disagreeable surprise. 

 He had just shot an antelope and a hyena from his 

 hiding-place, and having lain down without taking the 

 precaution of reloading his rifle, fell asleep. 



" I had not slept long," he said, " when my light dreams 

 were influenced by strange sounds. I dreamt that lions 

 were rushing about in quest of me ; and, the sounds 

 increasing, I awoke with a sudden start, uttering a loud 

 shriek. I could not for several seconds remember in 

 what part of the world I was, or anything connected 

 with my present position. I heard the rushing of light 

 feet, as of a pack of wolves, close on every side of 

 me, accompanied by the most unearthly sounds. On 

 raising my head, to my utter horror, I saw on every side 

 nothing but wild dogs chattering and growling. On 

 my right and on my left, and within a few paces of 

 me, stood two lines of these ferocious-looking animals, 

 cocking their ears and stretching their necks to have 

 a look at me ; while two large troops, in which there 

 were at least forty of them, kept dashing backwards 

 and forwards across my wind within a few yards of me, 

 chattering and growling with the most extraordinary 



