120 THE LION. 



of the kraal, came down and killed my riding-horse 

 about a hundred yards from the door of my cabin. 

 Knowing that when he does not carry off his prey, 

 he usually conceals himself in the vicinity, and is, 

 moreover, very apt to be dangerously prowling about 

 the place in search of more game, I resolved to have 

 him destroyed, or dislodged, without delay. I there- 

 fore sent a messenger round the location, to invite 

 all who were willing to assist in the foray, to repair 

 to the place of rendezvous as speedily as possible. 



" In an hour, every man of the party, with the ex- 

 ception of two pluckless fellows, who were kept at 

 home by the women, appeared ready mounted and 

 armed. We were also reinforced by about a dozen 

 of the bastard Hottentots, who resided at that time 

 upon our territory as tenants or herdsmen ; an 

 active and enterprising, though rather an unsteady 

 race of men. 



" The first point was to track the lion to his 

 covert. This was effected by a few of the Hottentots 

 on foot, commencing from the spot where the 

 horse was killed. They followed the spoor through 

 grass and gravel, and brushwood, with astonishing 

 care and dexterity, where an inexperienced eye 

 could discern neither foot-print nor mark of any 

 kind, until, at length, we fairly tracked him into a 

 large ' bosch,' or straggling thicket of brushwood 

 and evergreens, about a mile distant. 



" The next object was to drive him out of this 

 retreat, in order to attack him in a close phalanx, 

 with more safety and effect. The approved mode, 

 in such cases, is to torment him with dogs till he 



