ADVENTURE WTT1I LIONS. 101 



Dawn at length appeared ; but it was not until 

 after some time, and then with much caution, that 

 I ventured to ascertain the fate of the lion, whom, 

 to my great satisfaction, I found dead within fifty 

 yards of my place of concealment. The beast was 

 of an average size ; but, unfortunately, the hyaenas 

 and jackals had played sad havoc with his skin. 



Some time previously, my men had also shot a 

 lion in this identical spot; but owing to his fearful 

 growls, whilst dying, they thought it best to de- 

 camp at once without ascertaining his fate. 



On another occasion, when ensconced alone in my 

 " screen," I had a little adventure with lions, which 

 exhibited these beasts in a somewhat new light. 



In the early part of the night I had observed 

 several animals gliding noiselessly to the water, but 

 considerably out of range. Not being able to make 

 them out, I slipped quietly out of my ambush, and 

 approached the spot -where they were drinking. 

 From the nature of the ground I was enabled to 

 approach them un perceived, yet was incapable 

 to distinguish the species. Still, from the sound of 

 lapping at the water, I concluded they were hyienas 

 before me, and as one of them was leaving the 

 "vley" I fired. The bullet took effect, and, 

 uttering a growl, the beast disappeared. Where- 

 upon 1 muttered to myself, " Surely they cannot 

 be lions ?" 



The remaining two beasts had, in the meantime, 

 ceased drinking, and were moving lazily away, when 

 a low shrill whistle from me at once arrested their 

 steps. 1 levelled at the foremost and pulled the trig- 



M 



