336 THE LION KILLER. 



of life to have sprung down upon me, hurling me to the 

 bottom of the ravine in his death struggles. 



There was no other way of getting within shot than crossing 

 this ravine, and the lion was in too exposed a position to wait 

 long for my military tactics. I thought that if I should walk 

 forward, the lion would advance on his side, and always keep- 

 ing the highest land, according to his custom, we might find 

 some middle ground whereon to do battle. 



What I had anticipated occurred. . When I dismounted 

 and took my gun, the lion arose from the place where he had 

 been lying, and when I came forward down the slope of the 

 ravine on my side, he, with an assured step, commenced 

 descending his own side to meet me. 



"Where was the generosity that most writers accord to the 

 lion, to be found in the act of this specimen ? Was it hun- 

 ger that impelled him, who had held an ox for so long a time 

 in his power, to come forward with lofty menace, the moment 

 a stranger showed himself on the plain ? 



Now commenced the manoeuvres of the two leaders of the 

 approaching combat, and the tactics of noble war. 



With my double barrel rifle lying in the hollow of my arm, 

 on the full cock, I carefully and slowly walked down the 

 hill, taking care to pick the smoothest ground, and keep my 

 adversary's movements in sight. The lion did the same on 

 his side, with equal care, but like a high bred cock, he seemed 

 to be thinking, of anything but me, and scarcely ever looked 

 at me. 



As the two sides of the ravine converged like a funnel, in 

 a little while I was within about thirty paces, and then 

 halted. The lion did the same until I stopped, and then 

 without descending the valley any further, whereby he might 

 lose the preeminence of his position, he commenced walking 

 to the right and left, like a sentinel on duty. Each time that 

 he passed in front of me in his promenade he halted, and 



