134 THE LION. 



recounting their own gallant adventures, when 

 sitting in the evening along with their comrades 

 round a blazing fire, or under the influence of their 

 adored ' Cape smoke,' or native brandy, might fancy 

 them to be the bravest of the brave. 



" Having skinned the lioness and cut off her head, 

 we placed her trophies upon Beauty, and held for 

 the camp. Before we had proceeded a hundred 

 yards from the carcass, upwards of sixty vultures, 

 whom the lioness had often fed, were feasting on her 

 remains. 



" We led Colesberg slowly home, where having 

 washed his wounds, and carefully stitched them to- 

 gether, I ordered the cold-water cure to be adopted. 

 Under this treatment his hurts soon healed, and he 

 eventually recovered." 



Again writes Gordon Gumming, " Just as Swiut 

 had milked the cows, and was driving them from 

 the wooded peninsula in which we lay, athwart the 

 open ground, to graze with my other cattle in the 

 forest beyond, he beheld four majestic lions walking 

 slowly across the " vley " a fe\v hundred yards 

 below my camp, and disappear over the river's 

 bank, at a favourite drin king-place. These mighty 

 monarchs of the waste had been holding a prolonged 

 repast over the carcases of some xebras killed by 

 Present, and had now come down to the river to 

 slake their thirst. 



" This being reported, I instantly saddled up two 

 horses, and directing my boys to lead after me as 

 quickly as possible ray small remaining pack of dogs, 

 I rodo forth, accompanied by Carey carrying a 



