202 THE LION. 



did, it must have been with his eyes open, as he 

 always saw the lion at his feet. 



" Next day, in the forenoon, the animal went 

 again to the water, and while there, he listened to 

 some noise apparently from an opposite quarter, and 

 disappeared in the bushes. The man now made 

 another effort, and seized his gun; but on attempt- 

 ing to rise, he fell, his ancles being without power. 

 With his gun in his hand, he crept towards the 

 water, and drank, but looking at his feet, he saw, as 

 he expressed it, his 'toes roasted,' and the skin torn 

 off with the grass. 



" There he sat a few moments, expecting the 

 lion's return, when he was resolved to send the 

 contents of his gun through its head ; but as it did 

 not appear, the poor fellow, tying his gun to his 

 back, made the best of his way on his hands and 

 knees to the nearest path, hoping some solitary 

 individual might pass. He could go no farther, 

 when, providentially, a person came up, who took 

 him to a place of safety, from whence he obtained 

 help, though he lost his toes, and was a cripple for 

 life." 



MofiTatt further relates the wonderful escape of 

 another native from a lion, the particulars of which 

 he had from the man's own mouth. 



" One night," said he, " I, and about a dozen 

 other hunters, were fast asleep, with a circle of 

 bushes placed around the fire. When the blaze was 

 extinguished, a lion suddenly sprang into the midst 

 of us, seized me by the shoulder, and, together with 

 my caross, dragged me to some distance. My com- 



