THE STORY OF THE LION. 



US 



That lions, especially when hungry, will, however, on occasion attack 

 human beings, — on foot or when mounted, — there is abundant evidence. A 

 hunter engaged in stalking a rhinosceros, on looking back was horrified 

 to find that he himself was being stalked by a lion. There was but one time 

 in my career when a lion, driven by hunger, attacked me personally; but I 

 believe that there are some lions which will always make unprovoked attacks. 

 This view is supported by an account of an attack made upon three natives in 

 Eastern Africa. The three natives in question were passing along the edge of 

 a certain lagooii, when, without further warning than a slight rustle, a lion 



/^EV/' 





THE KING. OF BEASTS DRINKING AT A POOL. 



sprang upon the foremost, crushing him to the ground. His terrified com- 

 rades, throwing away the chance of shooting the brute while it was still upon 

 its first victim and its eyes probably closed, rushed to the nearest trees for 

 safety, but, once there, feeling ashamed of their cowardly desertion of an 

 old companion, they descended, and walking forward together were just on 

 the point of firing, when, with a roar that almost deprived them of the power 

 to run, the lion charged, caught the hindmost, and after shaking him for a 



