70 BIG GAME SHOOTING 
hind foot underneath him, and so clung, but only for a 
moment ; for the poor beast, maddened by fright and pain, 
and unable to stand up under the extra weight, became un- 
manageable, threw his head up, and swerved under the project- 
ing bough of a tree which, striking me on the chest, swept me 
from the saddle against the lioness, and we rolled to the ground 
together. A sharp rap on the head, from my having fallen on a 
stump, stunned me for a minute or two, and I woke to life to 
‘ Post equitem sedet ‘‘ fulva’’ cura'—The lioness does the scansion 
find John kneeling alongside ot me, asking me if I was dead, 
which was a needless question, seeing I was at the time sit- 
ting up rubbing my eyes. ‘ What’s the matter?’ I said, but 
at the same instant I heard the dogs again baying fifty yards 
off, and recollection came back. Rising to my feet, I stag- 
gered like a drunken man, rather than walked towards the 
sound, and propped myself up against a tree, for I was still 
weak and dazed ; indistinctly I could occasionally see both 
dogs and lioness. Presently, something broke through the 
