128 THE LION. 



mimosa grove, measuring the strength of his 

 assailants with a port the most noble and im- 

 posing. Disliking our appearance, however, and 

 not relishing the smell of gunpowder, he soon 

 abandoned the grove, and took up his position on 

 the summit of an adjacent stony hill, the base of 

 which being thickly clothed with thorn-trees, we 

 could only obtain a view of him from the distance 

 of three hundred yards. Crouched on this fortified 

 pinnacle, like the sculptured figure at the entrance 

 of a nobleman's park, the enemy disdainfully sur- 

 veyed us for several minutes, daring us to approach, 

 with an air of conscious power and pride which 

 well beseemed his grizzly form. As the rifle-balls 

 struck the ground nearer and nearer at each dis- 

 charge, his wrath, as indicated by his glistening 

 eyes, increased roar, and impatient switching of 

 his tail, was clearly getting the mastery over his 

 prudence. Presently a shot broke his leg. Down 

 he came upon the other three with reckless im- 

 petuosity, his tail straight out and whirling on its 

 axis, his mane bristling on end, and his eyeballs 

 flashing rage and vengeance. Unable, however, 

 to overtake our horses, he shortly retreated under 

 a heavy fire, limping and discomfited, to his strong- 

 hold. Again we bombarded him, and, again ex- 

 asperated, he rushed into the plain with headlong 1 

 fury, the blood now streaming from his open jaws, 

 and dyeing his mane with crimson. It was a 

 gallant charge, but it was to be his last. A well- 

 directed shot arrested him in full career; lie pitched 

 upon his skull, and throwing a complete summer- 

 sault, subsided amid a cloud of dust." 



