CHAP. v. LIONS. 205 



of a steel trap closing, along the line, through which I 

 was in time to catch sight of two more assagais being 

 simultaneously plunged into the beast. All those that 

 had run away hurried up, and a dense mass was formed, 

 pushing and struggling to get into the centre, making the 

 scene somewhat resemble a native football match I had 

 once seen in the colonies. Such a contest could not 

 possibly be continued long. Dozens of spears had been 

 buried in the brute's body the instant it had reached the 

 man, while, although I could tell by the shouting that 

 they were still stabbing it, it was probably only a dead 

 body on which they were wreaking their vengeance. Be 

 that as it might, it was nearly half an hour before I could 

 find any opening which led to the lion's carcase, and I do 

 not think there was one solitary individual among all who 

 were out that day who had not gratified himself by 

 plunging his spear into it; at any rate, its skin was a 

 perfect sieve, and had at least five or six hundred holes 

 in it. The price at which the victory was gained was 

 comparatively small, only one man having received a fatal 

 wound ; while the one upon whom the brute had sprung 

 escaped with some severe gashes and a broken arm. The 

 lion itself, though apparently still retaining all his powers, 

 was so old as hardly to have a tooth in his head, and was 

 one of the largest and heaviest I ever saw. 



It was W9nderful that it should not have fallen to our 

 bullets alone, the marks of six of which were quite plain. 

 Two had struck it in the head, one partially shattering 

 the jaw, the other entering above the eye ; a great round 

 hole in the very centre of the chest marked my second ; 

 and one had gone into the neck, and had driven through 



