THE LION OF SOUTH AFRICA. 87 



but his gun hung fire ; and, full of fright, he fled for 

 his life, followed in turn by his game. Soon finding 

 himself out of breath, he leapt on a heap of stones, 

 and, facing round, resolved to defend himself with the 

 butt end of his gun. 



This attitude imposed on the lion ; he stopped and 

 sat down with the coolest air in the world. Never- 

 theless, the hunter did not dare to move. In running 

 he had lost his powder-flask, and he could only await 

 the pleasure of the lion. They remained in this 

 position for a good half-hour, looking at each other; 

 after which the lion skulked slowly away, affecting 

 some dignity meanwhile, but, when he had gone some 

 distance, he bolted away with all his speed. 



A man, meeting a lion unexpectedly, fell down faint- 

 ing from fright. The lion, astonished, peered round 

 the bush, and seeing no one, suspected an ambuscade, 

 and started with his tail between his legs. 



He would have gone more slowly if he had been 

 perfectly certain of being seen, for his vanity equals his 

 distrust. 



" In the daytime/' says Livingstone, " the lion 

 stands a second or two gazing at the person he en- 

 counters ; then he turns slowly round, and walks as 

 slowly away for a dozen paces, looking over his 

 shoulder ; then he begins to trot, and when he thinks 

 himself out of sight, bounds off like a greyhound.'* 



