ONSKT OF A LION. 105 



change places with them : but my proposal, as I ex- 

 pected, was forthwith declined. 



As the day, however, was now fast drawing to a 

 close, I determined to make one other effort to de- 

 stroy the lion, and, should that prove unsuccessful, 

 to give up the chase. Accordingly, accompanied 

 by only a single native, I again entered the brake 

 in question, which I examined for some time with- 

 out seeing anything ; but on arriving at that part 

 of the cover we had first searched, and when in a 

 spot comparatively free from bushes, up suddenly 

 sprang the beast within a few paces of me. It 

 was a black-maued lion, one of the largest I 

 ever remember to have encountered in Africa. But 

 his movements were so rapid, so silent and smooth 

 withal, that it was not until he had partially entered 

 the thick cover (at which time he micrht have been 



\ O 



about thirty paces distant) that I could fire. On 

 receiving the ball, he wheeled short about, and, 

 with a terrific roar, bounded towards me. When 

 within a few paces, he couched as if about to spring, 

 having his head embedded, so to say, between his 

 fore- paws. 



Drawing a large hunting-knife, and slipping it 

 over the wrist of my right hand, I dropped on one 

 knee, and, thus prepared, awaited his onset. Ir 

 was an awful moment of suspense and my situa- 

 tion was critical in the extreme. Still my presence 

 of mind never for a moment forsook me indeed, [ 

 felt that nothing but the most perfect coolness and 

 absolute self-command would be of any avail. 



I would now have become the assailant ; but as 



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