ESCAPE OF A VIE BOER. 207 



had shot had been devoured by some of his com- 

 panions." 



Freeman further relates that, when at Manka- 

 rana, in the Kat-river settlement, he was told by one 

 of the chief men in the place, " that he himself 

 was once caught by a lion, and that his head was 

 actually between the jaws of the enormous mon- 

 ster; that he prayed God to have mercy on him, 

 and spare him;" and he added, "Even though 

 I never prayed before, I did so then most earnestly." 

 And his pra3*er, he believed, was heard, for the ani- 

 mal let go his hold, and left him. 



"Lucas van Veinsen, a Vie Boer," Thomp- 

 son tells us, " was one morning, about daybreak, 

 riding across the open plain, near the Little Fish 

 River, when, observing a lion in the distance, he 

 endeavoured to avoid him by making a wide circuit. 

 There were thousands of spring-boks scattered over 

 the extensive flats ; but the lion, from the open na- 

 ture of the country, had been unsuccessful in hunt- 

 ing. Lucas soon perceived that he was not disposed 

 to let him pass without further parlance, and 

 that he was rapidly approaching to the encounter. 

 Being without his rifle, and otherwise little in- 

 clined to any closer acquaintance, he turned olT 

 at right angles, laid the sjambah freely to his horse's 

 flank, and galloped for life. 



" But it was too late. The horse was fagged, and 

 bore a heavy man on his back. The lion was fresh, 

 and, furious with hunger, came down upon him 

 like a thunder-bolt. In a few seconds he overtook 

 Lucas, and, springing up behind, brought man and 



