64 THE LION. 



making the welkin ring with their horrible roar- 

 ing. On a certain night, indeed, as was seen 

 by their tracks, they approached to within a 

 dozen paces of the fire of one of ray men. On 

 this occasion, they, moreover, killed ray two best 

 dogs, who had attacked them, and so cowed the 

 remaining two that for a long time afterwards 

 they would hardly leave my heels. When lions thus 

 visited our bivouac, the Damaras accompanying me 

 were in the habit of making the most hideous noises, 

 cursing and swearing at the beasts a custom also 

 prevalent amongst the North African Arabs. 



" On another occasion at about midnight," Gordon 

 Gumming elsewhere tells us, " a lion made a most 

 daring attack on my cattle ' kraal ' charging com- 

 pletely through the thick thorn hedge; he sent the 

 panic-stricken cattle flying in dire confusion, and 

 dashed to the ground a valuable ox, which lay 

 groaning in his powerful grasp. I was awakened 

 by the noise, and instantly directing a troop of 

 the dogs to be let loose, the cowardly beast was 

 put to flight. The poor ox sprang to his feet, 

 and joined his companions, but his fore and 

 hind quarters were so fearfully lacerated that I 

 was necessitated to shoot him on the following 

 morning." 



CJ 



On a dark and stormy night, it is to be noted, 

 the lion, " the stealthy prowling tyrant of the 

 wilderness," is ever the most active and daring, 

 and consequently, at such times, it behoves the 

 traveller to be more specially on his guard. 



Mofl'att also testifies to the daring of the lion. 



