CUNNING OP THE LION. 85 



but owing to the branches of an overhanging tree, 

 this they only found out by his tracks on the fol- 

 lowing morning. After a while, however, he would 

 appear to have tired of this system of reconnoiter- 

 ing, and walked over to the water, where he 

 couched facing the " screen." Now and then he 

 would advance towards them, and then retreat; then 

 lie would crouch low, as if waiting to see them move, 

 at times raising his head. Seeing that this manoeuvre 

 did not intimidate the enemy, he had recourse to 

 an extraordinary expedient. He rose suddenly, 

 and whilst running hither and thither, he set 

 up the most hideous noise, neither a roar nor 

 a growl, but something between the two. This, 

 nevertheless, availed him not, for Green and Bon- 

 field bravely kept their ground ; but Green admitted 

 that it was very nervous work, as the brute evi- 

 dently meant mischief. 



Again the lion returned to his ambush, repeating 

 precisely his former tactics. Green would not fire 

 except from the direst necessity, as he knew the report 

 of his gun must necessarily frighten the elephants for 

 which he was waiting, should they happen to bo in 

 the neighbourhood ; but, at last, finding the wily 

 enemy resolved to hold his ground, he determined 

 attempting to oust him. 



The lion was evidently at this time couched, and 

 though the reflection of the moon against the sky 

 was then just perceptible, yet the darkness in tho 

 valley was still so great that very little more than his 

 outline could bo made out. However, taking as 

 good an aim as tho circumstance admitted, my 



