224 THE I.IOX. 



and he will in all probability stop to listen, con- 

 tinuing bis course, bowever, wben tbe sound bas 

 ceased. If you do not wisb to encounter bim, you 

 bare only to lie down, wben be at once becomes 

 uneasy, be starts to bis feet, and if be perceives 

 nothing, often retreats hurriedly, and with apparent 

 confusion." 



Though during the day the lion, as a rule, re- 

 treats at the sight of a man, yet at times be shows 

 unmistakable signs of displeasure. 



" When the beast is wroth, or pinched with 

 hunger," says Kolbein, a quaint but often truthful 

 writer of tbe last century, " be erects and shakes 

 bis mane, and thwacks his back and sides very 

 briskly with bis tail. When he is in this action, 'tis 

 certain death to come in his way; and as he gene- 

 rally lurks for his prey behind bushes, and travellers 

 sometimes discover not the motion of his tail till 

 too late, one now and then fulls into his paws. 

 But if the lion shakes not bis mane, nor makes any 

 great motion with his tail, a traveller may reckon 

 upon it that he may pass safely by bim." 



" A showman, who was exhibiting a lion," Kol- 

 bein adds, " was unexpectedly attacked by the 

 animal, who seized bim by the head. Whilst in tbe 

 beast's grasp, be called out to the bystanders, ' Is 

 be wagging his tail ?' ' Yes,' some one replied. 

 ' Well, then,' the unfortunate man stammered forth, 

 ' I'm a dead man.' And truly enough, for after 

 keeping his victim in suspense for a few seconds, 

 the brute put an end to the sufferings of his 

 master." 



