450 THE TKOPICAL WOELT). 



madness, he refrained from firing. Whilst intently watching 

 every motion of the lion, the animal suddenly made a 

 prodigious bound ; but whether it was owing to his not per 

 ceiving his intended victim, who was partially concealed in the 

 long grass, and instinctively threw his body on one side, or 

 to his miscalculating the distance, he w^ent clear over him, and 

 alighted on the ground three or fore paces beyond. Quick as 

 thought Andersson now seized his advantage, and wheeling 

 round on his knee, discharged his second barrel ; and as the 

 lion's broadside w^as then towards him, lodged a ball in his 

 shoulder, which it completely smashed. The infuriated 

 animal now made a second and more determined rush ; but 

 owing to his disabled state was happily avoided, though only 

 within a hair's breadth, and giving up the contest, he 

 retreated into a neighbouring wood, where his carcase was 

 found a few days after. 



Dr. Livingstone once had a still more narrow escape, for he 

 was actually under the paws of a lion, whose fury he had 

 roused by firing two bullets into him. ' I was upon a little 

 height ; he caught my shoulder as he sprang, and we both 

 came to the ground below together. Growling horribly close 

 to my ear, he shook me as a terrier-dog does a rat. The 

 shock produced a stupor, similar to that which seems to be 

 felt by a mouse after the first shake of the cat. It caused a 

 sort of drowsiness in which there was no sense of pain nor 

 feeling of terror, though quite conscious of all that was 

 happening. It was like what patients partially imder the 

 influence of chloroform describe, who see all the operation, but 

 feel not the knife. This singular condition was not the 

 result of any mental process ; the shake annihilated fear, and 

 allowed no sense of horror in looking round at the beast. 

 This peculiar state ' (a fine remark) ' is probably produced in 

 all animals killed by the carnivora ; and if so, is a merciful 

 provision by our benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of 

 death. Turning round to relieve myself of the weight, as he 

 had one paw on the back of my head, I saw his eyes directed 

 to Mebalwe, who was trying to shoot him at a distance of ten 

 or fifteen yards. His gun, a flint one, missed fire in both 

 barrels ; the lion immediately left me, and attacking Mebalwe, 

 bit his thioh. Another man attempted to spear the lion while 



