THE STORY OF THE LION. 



12! 



been ''bagged" in the interior of South Africa, at least fifty buffaloes have been 

 laid low. As a general rule the danger is reduced to a minimum when hunting 

 with dogs, as the lion's attention is generally concentrated on his canine foes ; 

 but even then it sometimes happens that he will dash straight through them 

 to attack the hunter. A mounted hunter, except when the movements of his 

 horse are impeded b)y thick forest or by yielding sand, can generally escape 

 when pursued, as the pace of the average lion is not sufficient to enable him to 

 overtake the average horse. If, however, on foot, and without dogs, though 

 there is little danger in attacking lions in the first instance, yet to follow up 



A PERFECT SPECIMEN OF A FULL-GROWN LION. 



a wounded one is very ticklish work, especially in long grass or thick cover, 

 for there is probably no animal of its size in the world that can conceal itself 

 behind so slight a screen, or rush upon its pursuer with such lightning-like 

 rapidity. 



It should always be recollected, before meddling with lions, that if you 

 do come to close quarters with them, death is the probable result. There are 

 cases within my own knowledge wdiere, single-handed and armed only with 

 a spear, a native has succeeded in killing one that has sprung upon him, without 

 receiving in return anything but trifling injuries; but these are only excep- 



