A HUNT WITH THE ARAB LADIES. 397 



I was unfortunately placed in the midst of a thicket so 

 dark that I could see but a portion of the dead body that 

 lay within ten feet of me, and felt that I would not be 

 able to have two shots, but must either kill or cripple my 

 animal with one ball, or be in turn killed by her. 



A moment's waiting, with nerves on the stretch, but no 

 sound or sign. Another moment's perfect stillness, and then 

 the heavy belching roar of a hungry lioness sounded a few 

 yards below me on the path, w r here were lying the two 

 carcases so closely picked by the vultures. 



Another pause, and then my strained ear gave me the 

 sound of heavy steps along the gravelly path, and I could 

 hear the regular guttural respiration that the animal makes 

 when walking. Then another pause, and the sound both of 

 her steps and her breathing ceased, and that, too, at. the 

 moment I knew she was within twenty paces of me. 



Did she scent the danger? Could she see me? These 

 questions flashed through my mind like a thought. I could 

 scarcely see the barrel of my gun, much less an animal of 

 the dun color of the lioness, under the deep shadows of the 

 thicket. Delay was dangerous, and the darkness increased 

 visibly. 



I hesitated no longer, but with my gun to my shoulder, and 

 stepping lightly and quickly, I walked forward, peering into the 

 woods ahead of me to try and spy my foe. My heart ceased 

 to beat. The tame sluggish feelings of years were evolved in 

 those few seconds of life. The blood shot through my veins, 

 and sensations through my mind with an immortal speed 

 that words cannot tell, and when I presently caught sight of 

 the outline of the lioness standing between two trees, listen- 

 ing to the almost inaudible noise of my coming, I aimed for 

 her side, fired, and then kneeled to see under the smoke. 

 All this was done with the instinct of the hunter, but without 

 any reasoning of the mind, so quickly did each event crowd 



