FORTUNATE FORBEARANCE. 12 



conscious pride upon the bands of bis assailants, 

 and with a port the most noble and imposing that 

 can be conceived. It was the most magnificent 



o 



sight I ever witnessed. The danger of our friends, 

 however, rendered it at the moment too terrible to 

 enjoy either the grand or the ludicrous part of the 

 picture. We expected, every moment, to see one 

 or more of them torn in pieces; nor, though the 

 rest of the party were standing within fifty paces, 

 with their guns cocked and levelled, durst we fire 

 for their assistance. One was lying under the lion's 

 feet, and the other scrambling towards us in such a 

 way as to intercept our aim upon him. All this 

 passed far more rapidly than I have described 

 it ; but, luckily, the lion, after steadily surveying us 

 for a few seconds, seemed willing to be quit of us on 

 fair terms ; and, with a fortunate forbearance, turned 

 calmly away ; and, driving the snarling dogs like 

 rats from his heels, bounded over the adjoining 

 thicket like a cat over a footstool, clearing bushes 

 twelve or fifteen feet high, as readily as if they had 

 been tufts of grass; and, abandoning the jungle, 

 retreated towards the mountains. 



" After ascertaining the state of our rescued com- 

 rade, who fortunately had sustained no other injury 

 than a slight scratch on the back, and a severe bruise 

 on the ribs, from the force with which the animal 

 had dashed him to the ground, we renewed the 

 chase, with Hottentots and hounds in full cry. 



In a short time we again came up with the 

 eneniv, and found him standing at bay under an 

 old mimosa tree, by the side of a mountain stream 



