133 THE LION. 



After telling us that " he was traversing the 

 country beyond the Hart River, where the grass 

 was tall and rank, and where copses of considerable 

 size of thorn-trees and grey-leaved bushes were 

 scattered over the landscape," he goes on to say : 



"It was a still and secluded spot! I observed 

 several vultures soaring over one of the covers in 

 question, within a quarter of a mile of the waggons, 

 and thinking it very probable that they were 

 attracted by some lion devouring his prey, I ordered 

 a couple of horses to be saddled, and rode towards 

 the place with one after-rider and about a dozen of 

 my dogs. I was right in my conjecture ; for, as I 

 cantered along, I had the satisfaction to behold a 

 majestic old black-maned lion walking parallel to me, 

 and within a hundred yards. He had not yet ob- 

 served me; he looked so dark that at the first 

 glance I mistook him in the long grass for a blue 

 wildebeest ; next moment, however, he turned his 

 large, full, imposing face to me, and I knew that it 

 was he. Shouting to the dogs with all my might, I 

 at once dashed towards him, followed by my after- 

 rider at a respectful distance, carrying my rifle. 



" The lion, as I expected, was panic-stricken, and 

 took to his heels, bounding through the long 

 grass at top speed. The dogs wont at him in gallant 

 fctyle, I following not far behind them, and yelling 

 to encourage my pack. The lion, finding we had 

 the speed of him, reduced his pace to a sulky trot, 

 and the dogs came up and followed barking within 

 a few yards on each side of him. In half a minute 

 more I had passed ahead, and halted my horse for a 



