250 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



This frequently occurs, but cannot be accepted as a 

 rule ; for I have known, when a lion has been killed, 

 its mate has wandered about day and night, wreaking its 

 vengeance on whatever came in its way ; in fact, taking 

 revenge manyfold for the injury it had suffered. A 

 brute, when actuated by these feelings, as may well 

 be imagined, is most dangerous, and bold to a degree if 

 necessity require it, at the same time cunning and 

 stealthy ; and large as they may be, like all the cats, 

 they have a faculty of hiding from observation truly 

 surprising. 



" When in the act of ramming down the bullets, I 

 heard a shout. Starting, and looking half round, I saw 

 the lion just in the act of springing upon me. I was 

 upon a little height ; he caught my shoulder as he 

 sprang, and we both came to the ground below together. 

 Growling horribly close to my ear, he shook me as a 

 terrier dog does a rat. The shock produced a stupor, 

 similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse after 

 the first shake of the cat. It caused a sort of dreami- 

 ness, in which there was no sense of pain or feeling of 

 terror, though quite conscious of all that was happening. 

 It was like what patients partially under the influence 

 of chloroform describe, who see all the operation but 

 feel not the knife. 



" This singular condition was not the result of any 

 mental process. The shake annihilated fear, and allowed 

 no sense of horror in looking round at the beast. This 

 peculiar state is probably produced in all animals killed 

 by carnivora, and if so, is a merciful provision of our 

 benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of death." 



Wonderful indeed are the works of the Almighty ; 

 even the inferior animals, although constituting the 



