The Wounded Lioness. 167 



chased the antelopes and found that the antelope 

 to which Lee had o-iven the finishino- bullet had 

 got up and made off; the quagga was there dead 

 enough, lying on his stomach with his fore leg 

 doubled under him, with his neck arched and 

 striped skin, looking a lovely object. AVe then 

 made a detour so as to approach the lions from the 

 point from which we originally came upon them. 

 Lee's skill in findino- his way in this veldt, where 

 one spot looks exactly like another, was simply 

 marvellous. Getting near the place, I put Walden 

 into a tree with instructions not to descend until 

 he heard me whistle, and proceeded, with the dogs 

 ranging about. The place where the first lion 

 which was wounded had gone we gave a wide 

 berth to, and ^yent straight to the place where the 

 second wounded lion lay. When we were within a 

 few yards of the spot we heard very clearly that 

 peculiar growling, grunting, sobbing sound to 

 which I have before alluded. Lee said, " That 

 means you are to come no nearer " ; upon Avhicli we 

 retreated a little and consulted. The grass was so 

 thick that we could not see the lion. I suggested 

 that we should climlj into trees and fire shots into 

 the patch to see wliat state she was in, and possibly 

 to move her out of it. This plan was adopted, and 

 having tethered the horses aA^'ay some distance, we 

 approached and ascended two trees which over- 

 looked the particular patch of grass. Here 

 Myberg's strength and stature served to great ad- 

 vantage, for I stood upon his shoulders and 

 ascended some twenty feet hiuh into the tree. Lee 



