DR. LIVINGSTONE'S ESCAPE 471 



and as the lion's broadside was 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 under 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 thigh. Another man attempted to spear the 

 lion while he was biting Mebalwe. He left Mebalwe and 

 caught this man by the shoulder, but at that moment the 

 bullets he had received took effect and he fell down dead. The 

 whole was the work of a few moments, and must have been his 

 paroxysm of dying rage. A wound from this animal's tooth 

 resembles a gun-shot wound ; it is generally followed by a great 

 deal of sloughing and discharge, and pains are felt in the part 

 periodically ever afterwards. I had on a tartan jacket on the 

 occasion, and I believe that it wiped off" all the virus from the 

 teeth that pierced the flesh, for my two companions in this 

 affray have both suffered from the peculiar pains, while I have 

 escaped with only the inconvenience of a false joint in my limb. 



