336 BIG GAME SHOOTING 
lions, seemed fully aware of what had occurred, as with ears 
pricked forwards, and looking in the direction whence the low 
hoarse growl of the lion had proceeded, he kept shifting his feet 
uneasily, every now and again snorting loudly. 
It did not want more than an hour to daylight, so I had a 
kettle of coffee made, and then sat over the fire talking with 
John, and discussing the probabilities of getting a shot at the 
lion in the morning. As the ground was so wet from the heavy 
rain that had been falling during the last few days, we both 
thought we should be able to follow the lion’s tracks and come 
up with him without the aid of dogs, and I was in great hopes 
that our visitor would prove to be a fine male with a good 
mane whose skin would fully compensate me for the loss of 
the ox. 
When at last the morning broke dull and misty I went and 
examined the carcase of the ox, which, as soon as there was a 
little light, we could see lying just on the edge of the waggon- 
road coming from Salisbury, at a distance of about thirty yards 
from the waggon. ‘The ground being so soft from the recent 
rains we had an excellent opportunity of seeing exactly how 
this ox had been seized and killed. The lion had evidently 
approached the unsuspecting animal very quietly whilst it was 
lying asleep within twenty yards of the other oxen, and seized 
it unawares, or just as it was rising to its feet after becoming 
conscious of the unwelcome presence. Then springing upon 
his victim, with his left paw he had seized it by the muzzle, 
holding it by the top of the shoulder-blade with the claws of the 
right paw, and at the same time keeping his hind feet on the 
ground. Thus held, the ox—a large heavy animal weighing as 
he stood goo or 1,000 lbs.—had plunged madly forwards for a 
few yards, rolled over, regained his feet, and after another : 
plunge again fallen, apparently breaking his neck by his own 
weight. The lion seemed never to have relaxed the first hold — 
he had taken of the muzzle and shoulder of the ox, and the ~ 
marks of his hind feet, stamped deep into the muddy ground ~ 
with outstretched claws, were plainly discernible alongside the _ 
