A FIRST-RATE PRIZE. 1 Go 



shot, he gave a startling growl, and in making his 

 escape was joined by his comrade, who, while the 

 duel was pending, had remained a passive spectator. 



At daybreak we took up the spoor of the stricken 

 animal, and had only proceeded about two hundred 

 yards when the dogs gave tongue at a small brake, 

 where, immediately afterwards, I saw a stately 

 lion rise to his feet and limp forward two or three 

 paces. But the exertion was too much for him ; lie 

 halted, and turning half round looked fiercely at his 

 assailants. Not being myself in a favourable posi- 

 tion, I -shouted to my men to fire. Kamapjee 

 responded to the call, and the beast dropped to rise 

 no more. 



In an. instant the dogs were clinging to his ears, 

 throat, head, &c. The brute, who was still alive, 

 grappled bravely with his assailants. Immediately 

 afterwards, half-a-dozen assegais were quivering in 

 his body, and a hundred more would soon have been 

 similarly sheathed, had I not promptly ridden up and 

 stopped the Damaras, who were rushing in crowds, 

 like so many maniacs, upon the prostrate foe. I 

 wished the dogs to finish the beast and they did so ; 

 but three of the best of them were wounded in the 

 scuffle, though only one seriously. 



The lion, a male, proved a first-rate prize, in ex- 

 cellent condition, and of giant proportions, but 

 possessed of scarcely any mane. His head was very 

 beautiful a perfect picture. My aim on the pre- 

 ceding night, we now found, had been most perlec*. 

 The bullet had entered exactly the centre of his chest, 

 and after traversing the entire length of hi.s body, 



u '2 



