SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO 51 



makes him look up, and he had better beware and hold 

 straight now if ever, for down comes the wounded bull, and 

 nothing but death or a disabling shot will stop him. I have 

 seen one with entirely paralysed hind-quarters attempt to 

 carry out his rush to the bitter end by dragging himself 

 along with his forefeet. His pluck is splendid ; no single 

 lion will face him, though, attacked by stealth or numbers, he 

 occasionally falls a prey. Once I went out in one direction 

 and Murray in another to shoot elands for fat to make candles 

 we carried wicks and tin moulds amongst our stores. I turned 

 homewards early to throw off my load, and within a mile or two 

 of the waggons put up six lions on a flat surrounded by bush ;, 

 in riding after them for a shot [ drove up a couple more, so 

 I had a ' flock ' of eight before me. Pressing them, the Kind- 

 most, a fine black-maned fellow, who seemed willing to sacri- 

 fice himself for his friends and relations, turned on me, thus 

 giving the others time to continue their retreat. Twice 

 I dismounted to shoot him, but before I could get the chance 

 I wanted, I was obliged to remount, for the whole of his com- 

 panions, seeing their rear-guard cut off and in difficulties, bore 

 down upon me. One was all very well, but I felt I was not the 

 man for the eight ; they were not very far from bush when I 

 first saw them, and before I could get upon anything I thought 

 equal terms they reached cover without a shot. 



I found Murray already in camp. He had come upon an 

 ostrich's nest, and making his after-rider take off his trousers 

 and tie up the bottoms, he had carefully packed the eggs in 

 them, put them across a horse, and, with heart set on omelet, 

 had returned to the cookery pots. Unfortunately, he had not 

 broken an egg, but taken them in faith, and they all contained 

 young birds, which the Kafirs were joyfully stirring round in 

 our big baking-pot preparatory to a feast when I appeared on 

 the scene. My readers may naturally say, ' What has eland 

 fat and ostrich eggs to do with the courage of buffaloes?' 

 Well, these are just the incidents of daily camp life, which 

 have brought up another recollection illustrative of my point. 



