

LITTLE BEAUTIES. 57 



though his body was weak in power to assist him. 

 On perceiving our advance, with a determined effort, 

 he gained his legs and faced us, his countenance as 

 plainly as language spoken showing that surrender 

 was not intended without a final effort. 



I fear I was prompted by too many feelings of 

 revenge to appreciate the noble sight the dis- 

 comfited foe presented ; but what wonder ? Had 

 I not lost three of my best draught cattle ? a loss, 

 the magnitude of which can scarcely be understood 

 except by those who have been placed in similar 

 positions. The gallant beast's head was down, his 

 lips curled upwards, so as to show his formidable 

 teeth, while his tail, as stiff and straight as a crow- 

 bar, was erect. If he had now possessed the power, 

 he would have charged ; as it was, he remained 

 as splendid a target as the most fastidious marksman 

 could desire. I aimed between his eyes, and, ere 

 the smoke had drifted away from the muzzle of my 

 smooth-bore, the hero lay extended at length upon 

 the sparsely covered veldt. While admiring my 

 prize, three Makalakas (vassals of the Matabele) 

 approached me ; the grin upon their countenances 

 showed that they had something unusual to tell, or 

 else something to dispose of. I was not long detained 

 in doubt which it was ; for from under a kaross two 

 of their number produced each a lion cub, about the 

 size of a six-months-old kitten. While admiring the 

 little beauties, who seemed in no way to feel the 



