UNCLE SAM GIVES PROOF OF HIS COURAGE. 151 



home ' again, or, more correctly, returned as a slave to 

 his owner, who, according to Uncle Sam's account, is 

 very cruel to him. After Coke and he had left a wood, 

 they passed close by a very overhanging mimosa quite 

 apart from any other trees, and under it they could just 

 distinguish a lion lying asleep. Coke at once moved on a 

 few yards to get a good shot as the lion came out ; and 

 when it did so Uncle Sam rushed in front of him, and 

 absolutely gave chase to it. The lion merely went away 

 at a trot, but so close was Uncle Sam behind it that 

 Coke could not fire, and no amount of shouting would 

 make him stop, until the lion, distancing him, gave Coke 

 a long shot, which only had the effect of pulling Said 

 up short on hearing the bullet whiz past his ear. It is 

 difficult to imagine a more annoying occurrence, for it is 

 very unlikely he will get such a chance again of bagging 

 lion No. 2. Coke gave vent to his feelings by an out- 

 burst of very pure English, that Uncle Sam sufficiently 

 understood to make him turn back and walk sulkily 

 home, not taking the least notice of his master's move- 

 ments. The explanation he gave for his conduct was 

 more simple than satisfactory, and much the same as 

 before viz., that he thought his master's rifle was not 

 loaded, and that he had better prove how courageous he 

 was by driving the lion away. The after-dinner attend- 

 ance of the four hunters is by no means an unimpor- 

 tant ending to the day's proceedings, and standing or 



