54 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



struggle than had previously been made took place, 

 and they gave way, so the whole team went down 

 to leeward as if they were stampeding before a 

 forest fire. As this method, adopted by lions when 

 about to attack a span of cattle, for it certainly is a 

 preconcerted and arranged plan, may not be gene- 

 rally known, I will briefly attempt to describe it. 

 Lions, as a rule, hunt in family parties. A very old 

 male, not unfrequently incapacitated from taking an 

 active part in pursuing game, is generally to be 

 found at the head of such a coterie, and on him 

 devolves no unimportant part of the programme 

 adopted by his descendants when a trader's or 

 traveller's cattle are destined to become the victims 

 of their ferocity and power. 



Down to leeward, a hundred or more paces below 

 where the bullocks are made fast, the young, active 

 males and lionesses place themselves behind what 

 available cover is to be found. This being done, 

 the aged mannikin goes to windward of the encamp- 

 ment and shakes out his abundant mane in the 

 breeze, so that the effluvia from it may be carried 

 down to the excited draught animals. 



One sniff of the tainted breeze brings every ox to 

 its feet in a moment ; when standing, often trembling 

 with fear, they gaze with dilated eyes into the im- 

 penetrable darkness. Closer and closer approaches 

 the aged lion to his victims, shaking and reshaking 

 the tawny dense covering of his fore-quarters ; then, 



