G8 THE LION. 



and in the very place where we now stand," said 

 Van Wyk, the Dutch colonist, to Professor Lich- 

 tenstein, " that 1 ventured to take one of the most 

 daring shots that ever was hazarded ; my wife was 

 sitting within the house near the door, the children 

 were playing about her; and I was without, near 

 to the house, busied in doing something to a waggon, 

 when suddenly, though it was mid-day, an enor- 

 mous lion appeared, came up and laid himself 

 down in the shade, upon the very threshold of the 

 door. My wife, either frozen with fear, or aware of 

 the danger of any attempt to fly, remained motion- 

 less in her place, while the children took refuge in 

 her lap. The cry they uttered attracted my atten- 

 tion, and I hastened towards the door; but my 

 astonishment may well be conceived when I found 

 the entrance to it barred in such a way. Although 

 the animal had not seen me, unarmed as 1 was, 

 escape seemed almost impossible, yet I glided 

 gently, scarcely knowing what I meant to do, to 

 the side of the house, up to the window of my 

 chamber, where I knew iny loaded gun was stand- 

 ing. By a most happy chance I had set it in the 

 corner close by the window, so that I could reach 

 it with my hand ; for, as you perceive, the opening 

 is too small to admit of my having got in ; and still 

 more fortunately the door of the room was open, 

 so that I could see the whole danger of the scene. 



O 



The lion was beginning to move, perhaps with the 

 intention of making a spring. There was no longer 

 any time to think; I called softly to the mother 

 not to be alarmed, and, invoking the name of the 



