166 THE LION. 



away, instantly commenced blowing shrilly through 

 a charmed piece of bone, which he wore on his neck- 

 lace. I retreated to the man ; and we then knelt 

 down. The lion continued his meal, tearing away 

 at the buffalo, and growling at his wife and family, 

 whom I found next day, by the spoor, had accom- 

 panied him. Knowing that he would not molest me 

 if I left him alone, I proposed to the native to go to 

 our hole and lie down, but he would not hear of it, 

 and entreated me to fire at the lion. I fired three 

 different shots where I thought I saw him, but with- 

 out any effect; he would not so much as for a mo- 

 ment cease munching the buffalo. 



" I then proceeded to lie down, and was soon 

 asleep, the native keeping watch over our destinies. 

 Some time after midnight more lions were heard 

 coming on from other directions, and my old friend 

 commenced roaring so loudly, that the native thought 

 proper to awake me. 



" The first old lion now wanted to drink, and 

 whilst roaring terribly, hold right away for my two 

 unfortunate steeds, which were tethered at no great 

 distance. I felt rather alarmed for their safety; 

 but. trusting that the lion had had flesh enough for 



CJ (D 



one night, I lay still, and listened with an attentive 

 ear. .In a few minutes, to my utter horror, I heard 

 him spring upon one of the steeds with an angry 

 growl, and dasli him to the earth ; the steed gave a 

 slight groan, and all was still ; 1 listened to hear tho 

 sound of teeth, but all continued silent. 



" Soon after this ' Tao ' was once more to be heard 

 munching the buffalo. In a few minutes he came 



