THE DYING BITE. 147 



and to save themselves from becoming, in turn, the 

 breakfast or supper of the monster of the desert." 



Elsewhere, Freeman confesses to having long 

 been incredulous as to the truth of what has been 

 just stated ; but that he subsequently met a Mr. 

 Lemare, who formerly resided at Mortito, and was 

 familiar with the Kallihari country, " who assured 

 him that the remarkable accounts circulated as to 

 people of that part of Africa catrhhuj lions />// the 

 tail, was a fact ; that he himself knew the method to 

 prevail; and that it was certainly not uncommon 

 amongst the natives." 



Fabulous as what has just been related may 

 appear to some, yet its truth is fully corroborated 

 by Sir A. Alexander, who, after speaking of the 

 wonderful intrepidity and desperate courage the 



N often display when attacking wild beasts, 



goes on to say : 



"Thus, I saw a man of the name of Lynx, who 

 had had his hand crushed by a lion that had killed 

 one of his cattle. Now, it is the custom in the land 

 to let those beasts alone, unless they destroy persons 

 or property; but if they do, it is always understood 

 that a hunt must take place. So Lynx, with three 

 of his cousins, went forth to attack the governor. 



" They tracked him to a bush, and were prepar- 

 ing their guns for the encounter, when the lion 

 rushed out unexpectedly on which the three 

 cousins fled, leaving Lynx, who was immediately 

 overthrown by the brute, to his fate. The monster 

 seized the unfortunate man by the left arm, and was 

 dragging him off to destroy him at his leisure, when 



i, -2 



