TEE DEATH-GRAPPLE. 77 



and aware that the least motion on his part would 

 insure his instant destruction, stood stock still, and 

 looked full in the face of the beast, on which the 

 latter, unable to withstand his gaze, closed his own 

 eyes, though still holding him fast with his fangs, 

 but without biting him severely. As they stood in 

 position for some moments, Gert beckoned to his 

 companion to approach and shoot the lion in the 

 forehead, which he might easily have done, as 

 the animal still kept his eyes fast closed ; but the 

 poltroon, instead of coming to the aid of his friend, 

 retreated to the top of a neighbouring rock. 



Had Gert remained quiet for a few moments, 

 the lion, the hunters affirm, would have released 

 his hold and left him uninjured ; but he lost 

 patience, and seeing himself abandoned, drew his 

 knife, and with his whole force plunged it into the 

 animal's breast. The thrust was a deadly one; but 

 the enraged lion now strove to grapple with him ; 

 the hunter, who was a powerful man, used his 

 utmost efforts to keep it at arm's length, but the 

 beast, in its dying agonies, so dreadfully lacerated 

 his breast and arms as to lay the bones bare. At 

 length thev fell together: when Gerl's cowardly 



/ O */ 



comrade took courage to advance, and succeeded 

 in carrying his mangled friend to the nearest habi- 

 tation, where he expired of lockjaw on the third 

 day. 



Moffatt, however, I would remark in parenthesis, 

 who probably knows more about the lion and its 

 habits than almost anyone else, docs not seem to 

 have much faith in the popular belief as to the lion 



