The Lion 97 



an ox came out by the gate of the kraal and walked round 

 the back of it. Hendric and Ruyter lay on one side of the 

 fire, under a blanket, and Stofolus lay on the other. At 

 this moment I was sitting, taking some barley broth ; our 

 fire was very small, and the night was pitch dark and 

 windy. 



" Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice of an 

 angry and blood-thirsty lion burst upon my ear within a 

 few yards of us, followed by the shrieking of the Hotten- 

 tots. Again and again the murderous roar of attack was 

 repeated. We heard John and Ruyter scream, ' The lion ! 

 the lion ! ' Still, for a few moments, we thought he was 

 but chasing one of the dogs round the kraal. But the next 

 instant Stofolus rushed into the midst of us almost speech- 

 less with fear and horror, his eyes bursting from their 

 sockets, and shrieked out, ' The lion ! the lion ! he has 

 got Hendric; he dragged him away from the fire beside 

 me. I struck him with burning brands upon the head, 

 but he would not let go his hold. Hendric is dead ! O 

 God ! Hendric is dead ! Let us take fire and seek him ! ' 

 The rest of my people rushed about, yelling as if they were 

 mad. I was angry with them for their folly, and told them 

 if they did not stand still and be quiet, the lions would 

 have another of us, for very likely there was a troop of 

 them. Then I ordered the dogs, which were nearly all 

 tied, to be loosed, and the fire increased as far as it could 

 be. I shouted Hendric's name, but all was still. I 

 told my men that Hendric was dead, and that a regiment 

 of soldiers could not help him then. Hunting my dogs 

 forward, I had everything brought within the kraal, when 



