174 THE LION. 



he commanded the 3rd Light Dragoons at the famous 

 battle of Hyderabad), " one of the best and bravest 

 of our cavalry officers," and whose exploits in the 

 jungle, moreover, have seldom been equalled, and 

 never, I believe surpassed. Usually he pursued the 

 lion on horseback, and if the country was fairly 

 open, he in most cases came off the victor. One 

 day, indeed, he thus slew either three or four of 

 these beasts, and all were full grown. His plan of 

 proceedings was similar to that described as occa- 

 sionally adopted in Southern Africa, viz., to rein up 

 his horse when within easy range of the lion, arid 

 then to give fire, and away. On several occasions, 

 however, he was in considerable personal jeopardy. 

 Once, in particular, he only escaped as by a miracle, 

 for having wounded a large lioness, the infuriated 

 animal immediately charged, and so nearly closed 

 with him that, when making her last bound, 

 her fore-paws actually touched the tail of the 

 steed. 



" The Major was also in the habit of shooting 

 lions and tigers in the night-time from a ' screen,' 

 or other place of ambush, and at such times met 

 with singular and striking adventures." Mr. Lloyd, 

 in short, describes his friend as the first lion and 

 tiger hunter of his day, and says that, if all his 

 sporting deeds were recorded, the exploits of other 

 lion-slayers would sink into insignificance. 



" The narration of his first adventure," Mr. Lloyd 

 goes on to say, " was written by me to the Major's 

 dictation, and as he subsequently perused the manu- 

 script, its accuracy cannot be called into question, 



