LIONS' STRATAGEM. 



steal off, and secrete themselves down wind, possibly a 

 hundred yards below the unsuspicious bullocks, who are 

 probably all lying down chewing the cud, with their 

 backs to the wind, and their keen eyes staring into the 

 darkness to leeward. The reason of this is that they do 

 not dread danger from behind, for their powers of scent 

 and hearing will give them ample warning ; while to 

 their vision alone can they trust for safety from the 

 attack of their stealthy foes in that direction. 



At length the party have got to their lurking-places. 

 The old veteran goes to windward of the oxen, and 

 approaches fearlessly towards them, shaking his mane 

 out, that the breeze may carry as much as possible of his 

 effluvia to the intended victims. 



When the first taint of this strikes their nostrils, 

 every bullock springs to his feet and faces the danger. 

 Closer and closer approaches the old lion, and the smell 

 of him becomes stronger and stronger. The bullocks 

 simultaneously make a rush ; they are, however, well 

 secured, and none succeed in breaking loose: But the 

 tawny, blood-thirsty marauder has not yet played his 

 trump-card. Up he approaches closer, again shakes his 

 mane and roars. That is the climax. If your reims 

 are not the best and those made of buffalo hide are to 

 be preferred the violence with which the cattle will 

 rush to avoid the threatening danger will enable them 

 to break loose, when the whole team will tear off down 

 wind, running almost into the jaws of their foes. In 

 such a stampede as this in fact, nearly in all instances 

 it is the flank of the victim that is first seized, and 

 several unite together to pull down the prey. 



The lion unwounded is not to be feared by day, 

 unless when the sexes are together, or inadvertently you 



