94 BIG GAME SHOOTING 
even stood thus twice opposite a zounded lion with an empty 
gun. Had I fallen back I feel certain my vis-a-vis would have 
attacked, for he was in neither case so crippled as to be unable 
to follow and overtake me. When the cubs are very small the 
male will show fight, to give the lioness a chance of making 
off with them, but this is rather a demonstration than real 
business. 
I do not think our South African lion can be nearly so 
formidable as the North African, for I had the pleasure of 
once meeting the famous French sportsman, M. Gérard, and 
the animals he described far exceeded any I ever met with in 
size and ferocity ; perhaps the climate and the constant badger- 
ing they get from the Arabs may be sufficient to account 
for the differences. Of course, if you take the war into his 
camp, he will fight, and he is a very dangerous opponent, 
from his quickness and strength. I see Sir Samuel Baker 
believes that he possesses more power in his paw than the 
tiger. I would not be understood as disputing such excellent 
authority ; but a tiger can give a tidy pat, too—I have seen 
him smash in an ox’s head at a blow. Again, I have spoken 
of the lion as less resolute in his charge ; but Sir W. C. Harris 
asserts that he is never stopped. This is not my experience, 
for I have sometimes known him brought up short by com- 
paratively trifling wounds, and one actually by the cutting 
away of an eye-tooth by the bullet. He has two very distinct 
cries besides his roar and charging bark, one when questing, 
the other when full. Lying by the fire at night, Kafirs will 
start up at once and pile on wood if they hear the low pant- 
ing moans of the first ; of the second they take no notice, 
unless you call their attention to it. ‘Oh, he’s full; he’s going 
home singing.’ I have once or twice taken the grunting of the 
cock ostrich for the note of the lion. It is much shallower; — 
but it has deceived me. The Kafirs never make the mistake. 
People looking at the original sketches of the pictures 
which are engraved in this book have often asked me how : 
I felt at the time of the accidents. Much as other men would, ~ 
ae ia NL tt Apa la Acces wrdicdihiucuk 
