GRAND A1TEAKAXCE OP THE LION*. 71 



of the waggon and placed it on the ground along- 

 side the wheels of the vehicle, which stood not 

 more than twenty paces distant from the brake hi 

 question. Being a bad sleeper I lay awake until a 

 very late hour. All nature was hushed and silent, 

 and the night so calm that I might have heard the 

 falling of a leaf. Suddenly my attention was drawn 

 to the tamarind clump, whence proceeded a low 

 rustling noise, like that of some animal cautiously 

 making its way through its mazes. Thinking it 

 probable that a hyena or a jackal was about to pay 

 me a visit, 1 sat up in my bed, and seizing my gun, 

 which I invariably kept within reach, prepared to 

 give the intruder a warm reception. Imagine my 

 surprise, however, when, instead of one or other of 

 these skulking animals, a stately lion stood sud- 

 denly before me ! In an instant my gun was pointed 

 at his breast, but hoping he would presently turn 

 his broadside towards me, which would have given 

 me a much better chance of destroying him, I 

 refrained from firing. In this expectation, how- 

 ever, 1 was disappointed, for on perceiving the 

 waggon, he retreated a step or two, and uttering 

 a low growl, vanished the next moment amongst 

 the bushes. 



There is something so grand and imposing in the 

 appearance of the king of the beasts in his native 

 wilds, more especially when he stands in an atti- 

 tude of surprise or defiance, that it is impossible 

 not to be more or less awed in his pivsi'nce. 



To proceed with my story, and further to show 

 the great daring of the lion, 1 may mention an 



