ADVENTURES WITH LIONS. 581 



witli the most perfect gravity, " They evidently talked to 

 each other, but though loud enough, I could not understand 

 a word they said ; and, fearing lest we should be the next 

 objects of their skill, we crept away and left them in council." 



This is a fine story, and I do not regard it with near the 

 suspicion with which I do' those vaunting ones of personal 

 adventure to which I have referred! I do not at all doubt 

 the sagacious measuring of strength with distance by the 

 lion. How else could certainty be secured in the next 

 experiment — though the self-educating processes of the 

 young lion are plainly indicated. Another story of more 

 tragic character is given. 



The following fact will show the fearful dangers to which 

 solitary travellers are sometimes exposed. A man belonging 

 to Mr. Schmelen's congregation, at Bethany, returning home- 

 wards from a visit to his friends, took a circuitous course in 

 order to pass a small fountain, or rather pool, where he hoped 

 to kill an antelope, to carry home to his family. The sun 

 had risen to some height by the time he reached the spot, 

 and seeing no game, he laid his gun down on a shelving low 

 rock, the back part of which was covered over with a species 

 of dwarf thorn-bushes. He went to the water, took a hearty 

 drink, and returned to the rock, smoked his pipe, and being 

 a little tired, fell asleep. In a short time the heat reflected 

 from the rock awoke him, and opening his eyes, he saw a 

 large lion crouching before him, with its eyes glaring in his 

 face, and within little more than a yard of his feet. He sat 

 motionless for some minutes, till he had recovered his presence 

 of mind, then eyeing his gun, moved his hand slowly towards 

 it ; the lion seeing him, raised its head, and gave a tremendous 

 roar; he made another and another attempt, but the gun 

 being far beyond his reach, he gave it up, as the lion seemed 

 well aware of his object, and was enraged whenever he 

 attempted to move his hand. His situation now became 

 painful in the extreme ; the rock on which he sat became 



