A FOUJl HO U US' HUNT. IS I 



became needful for the Major to risk everything. 

 Leaning, therefore, over the back of the howdali, 

 and clinging to it with the one hand, he, with 

 the other discharged his rifle, a very heavy one, 

 at the head of the lion (the piece at the time 

 oscillating, or swinging, in a manner corresponding 

 with the rolling of the elephant) and as luck would 

 have it, the ball, after crashing the beast's jaw-bone 

 subsequently threaded the whole length of its body. 



" This caused the lion to let go his hold, and for a 

 few seconds he appeared partially paralysed, but re- 

 covering himself, he slowly retreated towards the 

 thicker cover. 



" Subsequently he was again attacked by the 

 party, and in two or three instances charged them 

 as gallantly as ever; but as he was always received 

 with a heavy fire, an end was at length put to his 

 existence, though not until from twenty to thirty 

 balls had been lodged in his body. 



" The hunt lasted altogether from three to lour 



O 



hours, during which time the Major himself saw the 

 lion four several times at least on the head of 

 Captain Harris's elephant, and once, as ho had good 

 reason to remember, on the haunches of the animal 

 ridden by himself. 



" The Major described this lion as the most, 

 gallant that he, in his very numerous conflicts wilii 

 those animals, had ever encountered ; and if the 

 lion was brave, it must be admitted his assailants 

 were equally intrepid. The .Major considered the 

 beast as the largest he had ever been in at the death 

 of, its dimensions, stick measurement, being three 



