UNEXPECTED ATTACK. 18-J 



unsuccessfully searched the jungle, Laing and myself 

 mounted the elephant, that we might investigate 

 certain thick patches which whilst on foot we had 

 been unable properly to explore, for the cunning 

 animal would go anywhere freely, excepting, as just 

 said, the places where she was aware the lion was 

 crouched. 



" Whilst thus occupied, Woodhouse, who was on 

 foot, and about fifty yards from us, discovered 

 our foe a short way off in a bush, and immediately 

 opened his battery. Having three guns, he fired 

 three or four shots, each of which, as before, was 

 greeted with a q-nmt ; but the animal evinced no 



O O 



disposition to act on the offensive. 



" Woodhouse then exclaimed, ' D - the brute, 

 he must be done up now ! I shall walk into him.' 



" I said, ' Don't trust him, for you sec he 

 disregards all shot ! better let me come.' So 

 saying I left the elephant and joined him, taking 

 my double-barrelled rifle in my hand. Woodhouse 

 pointed out the lion to me ; 1 saw the yellow object 

 lying in the bush, but he was too much obscured 

 for us to discover his plight, or to see any par- 

 ticular part where we might hope to strike him 

 vitally. 



" After a few words with Woodhouse as to the 

 probability of the lion being forthcoming, I said, 

 * I'll fire one of my barrels and ascertain the point.' 

 I did so accordingly, when to my surprise and 

 dismay he rushed forth as fresh as when we first 

 viewed him and came directly upon us it was the 

 business of a moment. There was a little bush just 



