80 THE LION KILLER. 



from before me, and placed them in such a manner that they 

 would conceal my body from behind, and then awaited the 

 result. 



The day wore wearily away, the evening came on, and 

 light and sound died away together in the forest. The feeble 

 light of the setting moon just reached- the retreat where I 

 was crouched. I could only see the trunks of the neighbor- 

 ing trees, and the dead body of the bull, where a silver flake 

 of light was gradually fading, and I listened with attentive 

 ear for every sound. 



Presently a branch cracked beneath the gentle tread of 

 some heavy animal, and I took my position with my right 

 knee on the ground, and my left arm leaning on ray left 

 knee, supporting my rifle. I gazed along the barrel, waiting 

 yet hearing nothing more except the steady beat of my own 

 pulse. Another moment passed, and then another in utter 

 stillness. At last from within thirty paces in front came a 

 hollow roar,'gradually approaching as it died away. Then fol- 

 lowed a guttural murmuring, which is the sign of hunger with 

 the lion, and then a perfect stilmess. I heard nothing more 

 until I saw his immense head over the shoulder of the bull 

 which he commenced to lick slowly, keeping his eye fixed on 

 me. I took aim at his eye and fired. He sprang up on his 

 hind feet with a roar, exposing his breast, which made a fair 

 mark for ray second barrel, and he fell over where he stood, 

 directly on his back, moving his enormous feet backward and 

 forward. After reloading, I approached him, and believing 

 him nearly dead, attempted to stab him with my yatagan 

 behind the shouldor, but a quick motion of his fore leg broke 



