THE LION OF KROU-NEGA. 287 



an Arab, started forward, when a number of the hunters ran 

 up to me to prevent me, urging all the reasons they could 

 suggest, and actually detaining me by force, until I was 

 obliged to leave my burnous in their hands to get away. As 

 I ran towards the lion they followed, but one by one dropped 

 off- as I advanced, until only one of the party remained by 

 my side. It was my guide of the evening before, who said 

 as he hurried along : 



" I have received thee under my tent, and am responsible 

 for thee before God and man, and am ready to die with thee 

 if needs be." 



In the mean while the lion had left the open spot for a 

 thicket a few paces off. I carefully followed his foot-prints 

 halting whenever they passed through bushes, and casting 

 stones in to drive him out, or make him give some sign of 

 his presence. 



Presently a stone thrown at random was answered by a 

 sullen growl, and the animal dashed out wild with pain and 

 rage, and carrying his wounded leg with the toes turned 

 inward, which gave him the appearance of a bird-dog on a 

 point. 



As soon as I saw him I kneeled, the Arab squatting behind 

 me and calling out to me, "fire, now! do fire I" and then 

 uttering fervent ejaculations to the prophet. 



The lion made a short bound of four or five paces, which 

 was to be followed by another, when my first ball struck him 

 in the forehead near the eye and he fell to the earth. Ahmed 

 was already murmuring his untimely thanksgiving, when the 

 lion reared himself on his hind legs like a horse. He was 

 only five paces off; Ahmed hushed his chant in an instant to 

 resume bis prayers, and my second ball struck the animal in 

 the breast and penetrating his heart, he fell over dead. 



My first ball had broken his shoulder, my second had been 

 flattened on the frontal bone without doing it any injury, and 



