TERRIBLE TKACEDY. 53 



his prey amidst fire and shots, and amidst it all 

 carried it securely off." 



" When the day was more advanced," the Land- 

 rost further informs us, " the lion was tracked to 

 his lair and killed whilst lying over the mangled re- 

 mains of the poor sentinel." 



Scenes of a similar nature to the above have 

 occurred on two several occasions, in the encamp- 

 ment of my friend, Frederick Green. The par- 

 ticulars of the first is from his journal, kindly placed 

 by him at my disposal. 



" October 21, 1858. Last night, a terrible tragedy 

 was enacted in my cattle-fold by two daring lions. 

 The night was intensely dark, with occasional rain ; 

 and, fearing lions miofht select such a niiHit to sur- 



o o o 



prise their prey, I sat up watching until a late hour. 

 I had just lain down, remarking to my friend that, 

 in case of a visit from these brutes, the oxen would 

 give the alarm, when on a sudden there arose an 

 awful scream, followed by a death-like groan, such 

 as I shall never forget ; the very recollection of 

 it chills my blood. Two lions had entered tho 

 enclosures, and succeeded in carrying away a poor 

 fellow, whom they tore to pieces and devoured 

 within a short distance of our camp. We neither 

 could nor dared attempt a rescue. The unfortunate 

 man was lying in his hut, with his wife and two little 

 children, when one of the monsters forced his way 

 through from the back, and sei/ed him, at the same 

 time inflicting two wounds upon the woman. Tho 

 poor wretch, in his hurried exit, had evidently, in 

 endeavouring to save himself, laid hold of the poles 



