HISTORY OF THE LION. V 



got into complete confusion. About thirty paces from the 

 tent stood' a lion, who, on seeing us, walked very delibe- 

 rately about thirty paces farther behind a thorn bush, 

 carrying something with him which I took to be a young 

 ox. We commenced firing into the bush; the south wind 

 blew strong, the sky was clear, and the moon shone very 

 bright, so that we could perceive anything at a short dis- 

 tance. After the cattle had been quieted again, and I had 

 looked over everything, I missed the sentry from before the 

 tent. We called as loudly as possible, but in vain ; 

 nobody answered, from which I concluded he was carried 

 off. Three or four men then advanced very cautiously to 

 the bush, which stood nearly opposite the door of the tent, 

 to discover, if possible, what had become of the man, but 

 returned instantly in the utmost consternation ; the lion, 

 who was still there, rose up, and roared furiously. About 

 a hundred shots more were fired at the bush, without per- 

 ceiving anything of the lion : this induced one of the men 

 again to approach it with a firebrand in his hand; but as 

 soon as he reached the bush, the lion roared terribly, and 

 leaped at him, on which he threw the firebrand, and the 

 people having fired about ten shots, he immediately retired 

 to his former station. 



" The firebrabd which he had thrown at the lion, had 

 fallen in the midst of the bush, and, favored by the wind, 

 began to burn with a great flame, so that we could see 

 very clearly into and through it. We continued our firing 

 until the night passed away, and the day began to break, 

 which animated every one to fire at the lion, as he could 

 not lie there without being entirely exposed. Several men 

 posted at the farthest wagons, watched to take aim at him 

 as he came out. At last, before it became quite light, he 

 walked up the hill with the man in his mouth, when about 

 forty shots were fired at him without molesting him in the 

 least. He persevered in retaining his prey amidst the fire 

 and shot, and amidst; it all, carried it securely off!" 



