A MOMENT OF DANGER. 81 



having only one shot in my rifle. The ball told 

 loudly, and the lioness at which T had fired wheeled 

 right round, and came lashing her tail, showing 

 her teeth, and making that horrid murderous deep 

 growl which an angry lion generally utters. At 

 the same moment her comrade, who seemed better 

 to know that she was in the presence of man, made 

 a hasty retreat info the reeds. The instant the 

 lioness came on, T stood up to my full height, hold- 

 ing my rifle, and my arms extended, and high 

 above my head. Tins checked her in her course ; 

 but on looking round and observing Ruyter slowly 

 advancing, she was still more exasperated, and, 

 fancying that she was beincr surrounded, she mado 



v O O 



another forward movement, growling 1 tcrriblv. 



* tj o * 



This was a moment of great danger ; I felt my 

 only chance of safety was extreme steadiness, so 

 standing motionless as a rock, with my eyes firmly 

 fixed upon her, I called out in a clear commanding 

 voice, 'Holloa! old girl, what's the hurry? Take 

 it easy ; holloa! holloa!' She instantly once more 

 halted, and seemed perplexed, looking round for 

 her comrade. T then thought it prudent to beat a 

 retreat, which I verv slowly did. She seemed un- 

 decided as to her future movements, and was 

 gazing after me, and snufliug the ground, when I 

 last beheld her." 



At times, however, the human voice has also the 

 effect of rousing the ire of the beast, and lln; 

 natives, therefore, when desirous of ascertaining 

 his whereabouts, will shout with all their might, 

 which he, interpreting as a challenge, replies 



