350 THE LION KILLER. 



but he had the courage at once to acknowledge his error. I 

 was pleased with this frankness, and mentally resolved to pro- 

 tect my friend from every danger in the coming conflict, at 

 the expense, if needs be, of my own life. 



"Come," I said, "let us go a little nearer and take a look 

 at the gentleman." 



As we approached, the lion crouched down across the road, 

 as though to bar our passage. I left Rostain at about thirty 

 paces from him, and continued walking up. 



I would ask those who believe in the universal clemency 

 and kind-heartedness of the lion, what were the inclinations 

 of this one, who, when two men, with arms glittering in the 

 moonshine, were walking towards him, quietly crouched down 

 in the road to stop their way ? 



When within twenty paces, I halted, where I could get a 

 shot at his side, but like a cat at play, he wheeled face about, 

 lying close to the earth, and only showing me the oblique 

 surface of his head. 



The attitude of the animal being so hostile and wary, I 

 thought it unsafe to hazard a shot which might merely glance 

 along the skull, without penetrating it, and therefore moved 

 around to his side, keeping always* at the same distance. 

 When I attained a position that I thought sufficiently good, 

 I took aim again, but the lion, as before, wheeled around, cal- 

 culating in his own mind whether he should spring upon me 

 or not. 



Fully comprehending the extent of the danger in continuing 

 these tactics, I slowly moved a little to one side, sighting 

 the animal all the while over my rifle, and before he had time 

 to wheel, I fired at his shoulder. 



At the shot, ho attempted to spring forward ; a broken 

 shoulder prevented him, and he fell on his side, and while 

 struggling to regain his feet, I gave him the other barrel. 



Rostain, seeing the animal had fallen, ran forward towards 



