14 HISTORY OF THE L1DN. 



terrific ! There stood the emperor of the forest, with his 

 foot upon his prostrate foe, in defiance of whatever might 

 come ; looking round in conscious pride upon the bands of 

 his assailants, and with a port the most noble and imposing 

 that can be conceived. It was the most magnificent spec- 

 tacle I ever witnessed; but the danger of our friends, 

 rendered it at the time too terrible to enjoy. We 

 expected every moment to see one or more torn in pieces, 

 especially the man under his foot ; although the rest of the 

 party were standing within fifty paces, with their guns 

 leveled, yet we dare not fire- one man being still under 

 his feet, and the others scrambling towards us in such a 

 way, as to intercept o'ur aim. All this passed far more 

 rapidly than I have described it; but, luckily, the lion, 

 after steadily surveying us for a few seconds, seemed 

 willing to quit on fair terms, and, with a fortunate for- 

 bearance, turned calmly away. Driving the dogs like 

 rats from among his heels, he bounded over the adjoining 

 thicket, like a cat over a footstool, clearing brakes and 

 brushes, twelve or fifteen feet high, as readily as if they 

 had been tufts of grass, and, abandoning the jungle, 

 retreated towards the mountains leaving the man unhurt, 

 except a small bruise on his back, and a slight scratch on 

 the ribs, from the force with which the animal had dashed 

 him to the ground." 



Such is the usual way of attempting to destroy, rather 

 than hunt, this mighty beast ; and many loose their lives 

 in the chase. A very authentic account is given, in which 

 " Diederik Muller, a boor, (one of the most intrepid and 

 successful modern lion-hunters in South Africa,) had been 

 out, alone, hunting in the wilds, when he came suddenly 

 upon a lion, which, instead of giving way, seemed disposed, 

 from the angry attitude he assumed, to dispute with him 

 the dominion of the desert. Diederick instantly alighted, 

 and, confident of his unerring aim, leveled his piece at 



