CROUCHING IN TUE COVER. 183 



" Strange to say, we had hardly proceeded one 

 hundred yards, when two fine lions, young males, 

 but full grown, rose close before us, and one of 

 them fell instantly under the fire from the howdah. 



" The other lion fled, and was for some time lost ; 

 but being at length viewed by some of the men 

 posted in the trees, and signalled as far ahead, I 

 left the elephant, and, accompanied by "\Voodhouse 5 

 galloped in the direction pointed out. The in- 

 telligence, however, proved false, and the alarm 

 being soon after given in another quarter, we forth- 

 with proceeded towards the spot indicated. 



" It so chanced that whilst we were winding 

 our way, as best we could, through the jungle, I 

 passed near the place where his Majesty had 

 established himself, and he immediately took after 

 me in the most vicious manner, and from the thick- 

 ness of the cover and the broken nature of the 

 ground, I had the greatest possible difficulty in 

 evading him. At one time, indeed, he was not 

 more than ten or twelve paces from me. 



" He was now lost for a considerable time, per- 

 haps two hours, during which, as the wood was 

 dense, Woodhouse and I, having mounted the 

 elephant, had searched everywhere for him. 



" At last ho was discovered at the extreme end 

 of the cover crouched close under a ' pcloo-bush,' 

 and, apparently, quite ready for business. This 

 was soon verified, for, on being fired at, he in- 

 stantly charged, and planted himself on the head of 

 our elephant. From this elevated position, however, 

 he, after receiving our fire, was soon shaken off by 



