CHASSE BY AGGAJEKKS. 149 



flashed from their sheaths. In an instant the horses 

 were at full speed, sweeping over the level ground. 

 The lion had not observed us, but on hearing the 

 sound of the hoofs, he halted and raised his head, 

 regarding us for a moment with wonder, as we rapidly 

 decreased our distance, when, thinking retreat ad- 

 visable, he bounded otf, followed by the excited 

 hunters, as hard as the horses could be pressed. 

 Having obtained a good start, we had gained upon 

 him, and we kept up the pace until we arrived within 

 about eighty yards of the lion, who, although he 

 appeared to fly easily along like a cat, did not equal 

 the speed of the horses. It was a beautiful sight; 

 Aggahr was an exceedingly fast horse, and having 

 formerly belonged to one of the llamran hunters, 

 he thoroughly understood his work. His gallop 

 was perfection, and his long steady stride was as 

 easy to himself as to his rider ; there was no neces- 

 sity to guide him, as he followed an animal like a 

 greyhound, and sailed between the stems of the 

 numerous trees, carefully avoiding their trunks, and 

 choosing his route where the branches allowed 

 ample room for the rider to pass beneath. In about 

 five minutes we had run the lion straight across tin- 

 plain, through several open strips of mimosa, and we 

 were now within a lew yards of him, but unfor- 

 tunately, just as Talier and Abou Do dashed forward 

 in the endeavour to ride upon eit lu-r Hank, he sprang 

 down a precipitous ravine, and disappeared in the 

 thick thorns. 



"This ravine formed a broad bottom, which, 

 covered with dense screen nubbuk, continued for a 



