122 THE LION. 



without effect. At length, after some hours spent 

 in tli us beating about the bush, the Scottish blood 

 of some of my countrymen began to get impatient, 

 and three of them announced their determina- 

 tion to break in and beard the lion in his den, pro- 

 vided three of the Bastards (who w r ere superior 

 marksmen) would support them, and follow up their 

 fire, should the enemy venture to give battle. Ac- 

 cordingly, in they went (in spite of the warnings 

 of some more prudent men), to within fifteen to 

 twenty paces of the spot where the animal lay con- 

 cealed. He was couched among the roots of a large 

 evergreen, but with a small space of open ground 

 on one side of it ; and they fancied, on approaching, 

 that they saw him distinctly lying glaring at them 

 under the foliage. Channno- the Bastards to remain 



O O O 



firm, and level fair, should they miss, the Scottish 

 champions let fly together, and struck, not the lion, 

 as it afterwards proved, but a great block of red 

 stone, beyond which he was actually lying. Whether 

 any of the shot grazed him is uncertain; but with 

 no other warning than a furious growl, forth he 

 bolted from the bush. The rascally Bastards, in 

 place of pouring in their volley upon him, instantly 

 turned and ran helter-skelter, leaving him to do 

 his pleasure on the defenceless Scots, who, with 

 empty guns, were tumbling over each other in their 

 hurry to escape the clutch of the rampant savage. 

 In a twinkling ho was upon them, and with one 

 stroke of his paw dashed the nearest to the ground. 

 The scene was terrific ! There stood the lion, with 

 his foot upon the prostrate foe, looking round in 



