126 THE STORY OF THE LION. 



tions that prove the rule that when they strike they kill. * * * It is a grand 

 sight to see one charge a native regiment sent out after it, as they sometimes 

 are, springing over the heads of the first line right intO' the center, flying about, 

 knocking men down with every blow, until, a complete sieve of assegai wounds, 

 it dies fighting. 



The lion tries to avoid man until wounded, and it is only in exceptional 

 cases of there being young ones to guard, or from astonishment at seeing the 

 hunter so' close to- them, that they charge wdien being tracked. They charge 

 with the same coughing roar that a tiger does, and come at great speed close 

 to the ground, not bounding in the air as they are represented in pictures. 

 Their ears are pressed close to the head, giving them the comical appearance 

 of being without ears. So large an animal coming at full speed against you 

 of course knocks you off your legs. The claws and teeth entering the flesh 

 do not hurt so much as you would think. The only really painful part of the 

 business is the squeeze given by the jaws on the bone. I felt none of the 

 dreamy stupor Livingstone describes, but, on the contrary, felt as usual. I 

 adopted the course of lying quite still, which, I believe, is the best thing one 

 can do', as you are quite helpless with a heavy animal on you, and they are 

 inclined to make grabs at everything that moves, and the fewer bites you can 

 get off with the better. 



Twice in my life I have escaped death by the ruse of feigning death when 

 in the power of a lion, but I know O'f no' other situation in which a man can 

 be placed which requires as much nerve and control of the muscles. Imagine 

 a great brute nosing and sniffing every part of your body from your head to 

 feet; imagine feeling its hot breath or the saliva from its dripping jaws upon 

 your face, while you know that to^ stir or give any sign of life means instant 

 death, and you will have some idea how a hunter feels when at the mercy of 

 the king of beasts. 



