94 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



even stood thus twice opposite a wounded lion with an empty 

 gun. Had I fallen back I feel certain my vis-a-vis would have 

 attacked, for he was in neither case so crippled as to be unable 

 to follow and overtake me. When the cubs are very small the 

 male will show fight, to give the lioness a chance of making 

 off with them, but this is rather a demonstration than real 

 business. 



I do not think our South African lion can be nearly so 

 formidable as the North African, for I had the pleasure of 

 once meeting the famous French sportsman, M. Gerard, and 

 the animals he described far exceeded any I ever met with in 

 size and ferocity ; perhaps the climate and the constant badger- 

 ing they get from the Arabs may be sufficient to account 

 for the differences. Of course, if you take the war into his 

 camp, he will fight, and he is a very dangerous opponent, 

 from his quickness and strength. I see Sir Samuel Baker 

 believes that he possesses more power in his paw than the 

 tiger. I would not be understood as disputing such excellent 

 authority ; but a tiger can give a tidy pat, too I have seen 

 him smash in an ox's head at a blow. Again, I have spoken 

 of the lion as less resolute in his charge ; but Sir W. C. Harris 

 asserts that he is never stopped. This is not my experience, 

 for I have sometimes known him brought up short by com- 

 paratively trifling wounds, and one actually by the cutting 

 away of an eye-tooth by the bullet. He has two very distinct 

 cries besides his roar and charging bark, one when questing, 

 the other when full. Lying by the fire at night, Kafirs will 

 start up at once and pile on wood if they hear the low pant- 

 ing moans of the first ; of the second they take no notice, 

 unless you call their attention to it. ' Oh, he's full ; he's going 

 home singing.' I have once or twice taken the grunting of the 

 cock ostrich for the note of the lion. It is much shallower ; 

 but it has deceived me. The Kafirs never make the mistake. 



People looking at the original sketches of the pictures 

 which are engraved in this book have often asked me how 

 I felt at the time of the accidents. Much as other men would, 



