240 LARGE GAME. chap. v. 



has approached so near before being discovered that the 

 animal is afraid to turn tail, and, urged by its very fears, 

 makes a charge ; or it may be half- famished, and having 

 got hold of some prey, either of your killing or its own, 

 will not quit it without a contest ; or, if a lioness with 

 cubs, will fight in defence of their supposed danger. 



In the above cases, utter immobility and coolness will 

 often avert an attack, for if the animal, judging by your 

 behaviour, imagines that you do not want to hurt it, it 

 will, after trying you for several minutes, and even 

 making one or two sham charges, often walk away and 

 allow you to do the same ; but merely raising the arm, 

 much less pointing a gun at it, is sure to make it come 

 on. Several instances of this have occurred within my 

 knowledge. A large native hunting-party had gone out, 

 and were scattered over the thorns, and one of my gun- 

 bearers who had accompanied it suddenly found himself 

 face to face with a full-grown male lion, without a yard 

 between them. He had presence of mind sufficient to 

 stand perfectly still, without even attempting to take 

 one of the spears he carried in his left hand into the 

 other, and after a couple of minutes the brute walked 

 away, turning its head round every second to watch him. 

 This could not be attributed to the efficacy of the 

 human eye, as the man afterwards told me that he had 

 not dared to raise his from the ground. The lion before 

 going far met another native, who raised his spear, as if 

 to throw it ; on which it instantly sprang upon him, and 

 inflicted such wounds that he died within half an hour. 

 I have no doubt that if this man also had stood still, he 

 would have been perfectly safe. 



