20 THE LION. 



apparently rather slow, yet, from the great length 

 of his body, he is able to get over a good deal 

 of grouud in a short time. Indeed, he has been 

 known, in the course of the night, to cross a 

 plain which, at that particular point, was, as the 

 crow flies, forty-five miles in width. 



Occasionally he trots, when his speed is not 

 inconsiderable. 



His gallop or rather succession of bounds is, for 

 a short distance, very fast; nearly or quite equal 

 to that of a horse. Indeed, unless the steed has 

 somewhat the start when the beast charges, it will 

 be puzzled to escape. Many instances are on 

 record of horsemen who have incautiously ap- 

 proached too near to the lion, prior to firing, who 

 have been pulled down by him before they could 

 get out of harm's way. Happily, however, the 

 beast soon tires of the exertion of galloping, and 

 unless his first rush succeeds, he, for the most part, 

 soon halts and beats a retreat. 



