336 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



lions, seemed fully aware of what had occurred, as with ears 

 pricked forwards, and looking in the direction whence the low 

 hoarse growl of the lion had proceeded, he kept shifting his feet 

 uneasily, every now and again snorting loudly. 



It did not want more than an hour to daylight, so I had a 

 kettle of coffee made,' and then sat over the fire talking with 

 John, and discussing the probabilities of getting a shot at the 

 lion in the morning. As the ground was so wet from the heavy 

 rain that had been falling during the last few days, we both 

 thought we should be able to follow the lion's tracks and come 

 up with him without the aid of dogs, and I was in great hopes 

 that our visitor would prove to be a fine male with a good 

 mane whose skin would fully compensate me for the loss of 

 the ox. 



When at last the morning broke dull and misty I went and 

 examined the carcase of the ox, which, as soon as there was a 

 little light, we could see lying just on the edge of the waggon- 

 road coming from Salisbury, at a distance of about thirty yards 

 from the waggon. The ground being so soft from the recent 

 rains we had an excellent opportunity of seeing exactly how 

 this ox had been seized and killed. The lion had evidently 

 approached the unsuspecting animal very quietly whilst it was 

 lying asleep within twenty yards of the other oxen, and seized 

 it unawares, or just as it was rising to its feet after becoming 

 conscious of the unwelcome presence. Then springing upon 

 his victim, with his left paw he had seized it by the muzzle, 

 holding it by the top of the shoulder-blade with the claws of the 

 right paw, and at the same time keeping his hind feet on the 

 ground. Thus held, the ox a large heavy animal weighing as 

 he stood 900 or 1,000 Ibs. had plunged madly forwards for a 

 few yards, rolled over, regained his feet, and after another 

 plunge again fallen, apparently breaking his neck by his own 

 weight. The lion seemed never to have relaxed the first hold 

 he had taken of the muzzle and shoulder of the ox, and the 

 marks of his hind feet, stamped deep into the muddy ground 

 with outstretched claws, were plainly discernible alongside the 



